Commonwealth Equity Services LLC Decreases Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Commonwealth Equity Services LLC trimmed its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 2.7% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 217,889 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 5,969 shares during the quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $49,687,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. DecisionMap Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $305,000. Achmea Investment Management B.V. boosted its position in Union Pacific by 91.8% during the fourth quarter. Achmea Investment Management B.V. now owns 3,633 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $828,000 after purchasing an additional 1,739 shares in the last quarter. Tredje AP fonden boosted its position in Union Pacific by 51.1% during the fourth quarter. Tredje AP fonden now owns 256,129 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $58,408,000 after purchasing an additional 86,618 shares in the last quarter. Essential Planning LLC. acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth $4,321,000. Finally, Liberty Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 2.8% in the fourth quarter. Liberty Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,697 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $387,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Trading Up 1.5 %

Shares of UNP opened at $237.71 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $143.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.43, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. Union Pacific Co. has a one year low of $218.55 and a one year high of $258.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.77. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $242.05 and a 200 day moving average price of $240.77.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings results 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 return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.71 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.25%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Guggenheim boosted their price target on 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 cut their price target on Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Benchmark boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, TD Cowen boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $263.00.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total transaction of $1,636,740.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $1,875,000.00. Following the sale, the president now owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.26% 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.