Cutter & CO Brokerage Inc. Has $5.65 Million Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Cutter & CO Brokerage Inc. raised its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 18.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 24,759 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 3,898 shares during the period. Union Pacific comprises 1.4% of Cutter & CO Brokerage Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 17th biggest position. Cutter & CO Brokerage Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $5,646,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Lake Street Advisors Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. Lake Street Advisors Group LLC now owns 8,125 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,853,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. Kirtland Hills Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 6.2% during the 4th quarter. Kirtland Hills Capital Management LLC now owns 3,217 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $734,000 after acquiring an additional 188 shares during the period. FourThought Financial Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth $989,000. Commonwealth Retirement Investments LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.9% during the 4th quarter. Commonwealth Retirement Investments LLC now owns 11,103 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,532,000 after acquiring an additional 317 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 4,821,979 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,099,604,000 after acquiring an additional 118,999 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have commented on UNP shares. Loop Capital lowered shares of Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $265.00 to $200.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Guggenheim lifted their target price 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. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Citigroup lifted their price target 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. Finally, TD Cowen lifted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $261.40.

Union Pacific Trading Up 1.4 %

Shares of NYSE:UNP opened at $245.83 on Wednesday. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $238.19 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $240.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62. Union Pacific Co. has a one year low of $218.55 and a one year high of $258.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $148.55 billion, a PE ratio of 22.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 in the previous year, the firm posted $2.71 EPS. On average, equities 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. Stockholders 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 dividend yield of 2.18%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 48.33%.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated 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 completion of the sale, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,240,000. The trade was 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 insiders.

About Union Pacific

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.