Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Shares Sold by Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC

Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC cut its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 5.7% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 3,337 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 201 shares during the period. Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $822,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. BluePath Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Power Corp of Canada purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Tyler Stone Wealth Management purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the second quarter worth $33,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,750 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $937,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the president now owns 56,682 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $14,170,500. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently issued reports on UNP. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on Union Pacific from $282.00 to $272.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on Union Pacific from $248.00 to $274.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 11th. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Union Pacific in a research report on Monday, April 8th. They set a “hold” rating and a $250.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Susquehanna boosted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $245.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, March 28th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $253.48.

Union Pacific Trading Up 1.0 %

Shares of UNP traded up $2.27 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $232.08. The company had a trading volume of 2,971,911 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,964,102. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $245.29 and a 200-day simple moving average of $233.73. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.11. The stock has a market cap of $141.59 billion, a PE ratio of 22.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.48 and a beta of 1.07. Union Pacific Co. has a 1-year low of $190.37 and a 1-year high of $258.66.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.56 by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $6.16 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.05 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 26.45% and a return on equity of 46.87%. Union Pacific’s revenue was down .3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.67 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.01 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 29th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 29th were given a dividend of $1.30 per share. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.24%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is presently 49.71%.

Union Pacific 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.