Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Shares Sold by Stack Financial Management Inc

Stack Financial Management Inc decreased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 0.9% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 50,781 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 486 shares during the period. Stack Financial Management Inc’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $11,580,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Mengis Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 4.6% during the fourth quarter. Mengis Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,850 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $650,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares during the last quarter. Pine Valley Investments Ltd Liability Co boosted its position in Union Pacific by 18.4% during the 4th quarter. Pine Valley Investments Ltd Liability Co now owns 12,056 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,749,000 after purchasing an additional 1,872 shares during the period. Pring Turner Capital Group Inc. grew its stake in Union Pacific by 6.0% during the 4th quarter. Pring Turner Capital Group Inc. now owns 20,756 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $4,733,000 after buying an additional 1,176 shares during the last quarter. BankPlus Trust Department acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth $148,000. Finally, Impax Asset Management Group plc increased its position in Union Pacific by 14.0% in the fourth quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 622,803 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $142,024,000 after buying an additional 76,567 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Trading Down 1.3 %

Union Pacific stock opened at $242.39 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $146.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a 1 year low of $218.55 and a 1 year high of $258.66. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $237.87 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $240.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.77.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.71 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.21%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 48.33%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently commented on UNP shares. Raymond James restated a “strong-buy” rating and set a $285.00 price target (up previously from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. TD Cowen increased their price objective on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Barclays raised their target price on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $261.40.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total transaction of $1,636,740.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,632,388. The trade was a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $1,875,000.00. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This trade represents a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Union Pacific Company Profile

Union Pacific Corporation, through its subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad Company, operates in the railroad business in the United States. The company offers transportation services for grain and grain products, fertilizers, food and refrigerated products, and coal and renewables to grain processors, animal feeders, ethanol producers, renewable biofuel producers, and other agricultural users; and construction products, industrial chemicals, plastics, forest products, specialized products, metals and ores, petroleum, liquid petroleum gases, soda ash, and sand, as well as finished automobiles, automotive parts, and merchandise in intermodal containers.