Shoker Investment Counsel Inc. Grows Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Shoker Investment Counsel Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 1.3% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 14,272 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 188 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific makes up about 1.1% of Shoker Investment Counsel Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest holding. Shoker Investment Counsel Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $3,255,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Howard Capital Management Group LLC grew its stake in Union Pacific by 16.4% in the third quarter. Howard Capital Management Group LLC now owns 2,860 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $705,000 after purchasing an additional 403 shares in the last quarter. Pallas Capital Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 25.2% during the 3rd quarter. Pallas Capital Advisors LLC now owns 2,050 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $473,000 after buying an additional 413 shares during the last quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC now owns 9,494 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,191,000 after acquiring an additional 251 shares in the last quarter. Diversify Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 33.6% in the 3rd quarter. Diversify Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,250 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,509,000 after acquiring an additional 1,573 shares during the last quarter. Finally, SteelPeak Wealth LLC raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 18.7% during the 3rd quarter. SteelPeak Wealth LLC now owns 2,379 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $586,000 after acquiring an additional 375 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. Benchmark lifted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Raymond James reiterated a “strong-buy” rating and set a $285.00 price objective (up previously from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, January 24th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $261.40.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.1 %

Union Pacific stock opened at $245.12 on Friday. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $218.55 and a 52 week high of $258.07. The stock has a market cap of $148.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.10, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $239.05 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $240.86. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.71 EPS. On average, analysts expect 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. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.19%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other 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 value of $1,636,740.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,632,388. The trade was a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred 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 of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This 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 owned by corporate 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.