Davis R M Inc. Boosts Stock Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Davis R M Inc. increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 0.7% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 157,396 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,135 shares during the quarter. Davis R M Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $35,893,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Clare Market Investments LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,936,000. Tortoise Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.5% in the 4th quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 2,885 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $658,000 after buying an additional 70 shares during the period. Independent Advisor Alliance grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 6.4% in the 4th quarter. Independent Advisor Alliance now owns 35,161 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $8,018,000 after buying an additional 2,107 shares during the period. Paragon Private Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 3.9% in the 4th quarter. Paragon Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,584 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $817,000 after buying an additional 136 shares during the period. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 6.9% in the 4th quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 82,873 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $18,898,000 after buying an additional 5,349 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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 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 directly owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at $6,632,388. The trade was a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the business’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 completion of the sale, the president now owns 64,960 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $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 owned by company insiders.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Union Pacific stock opened at $247.97 on Tuesday. 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 Co. has a one year low of $218.55 and a one year high of $258.07. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $241.44 and its 200 day moving average price is $240.98. The firm has a market capitalization of $149.85 billion, a PE ratio of 22.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 in the prior year, the firm posted $2.71 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued 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 2.16%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 48.33%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have commented on the company. Guggenheim lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Citigroup lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Barclays lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $263.00.

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.