Gladstone Institutional Advisory LLC Purchases 57 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Gladstone Institutional Advisory LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 0.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 17,972 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 57 shares during the quarter. Gladstone Institutional Advisory LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $4,098,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 1,306.3% during the 3rd quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 450 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $111,000 after purchasing an additional 418 shares during the last quarter. Fiduciary Alliance LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 32.6% during the third quarter. Fiduciary Alliance LLC now owns 1,611 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $397,000 after buying an additional 396 shares in the last quarter. CX Institutional raised its position in Union Pacific by 165.4% in the 3rd quarter. CX Institutional now owns 39,995 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $9,858,000 after buying an additional 24,927 shares during the last quarter. Creative Planning raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 6.7% in the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 258,290 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $62,439,000 after purchasing an additional 16,272 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Boomfish Wealth Group LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 2.2% in the 3rd quarter. Boomfish Wealth Group LLC now owns 6,218 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,533,000 after buying an additional 135 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently commented on UNP. Guggenheim increased their price target on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Benchmark lifted their target price on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $288.00 to $283.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective 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. Finally, BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $261.40.

Union Pacific Trading Up 1.4 %

Shares of Union Pacific stock opened at $247.81 on Wednesday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $235.21 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $240.25. The firm has a market cap of $150.24 billion, a PE ratio of 22.35, a PEG ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a 1 year low of $218.55 and a 1 year high of $258.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.63.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings results 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 last year, the company earned $2.71 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 12.01 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared 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 dividend yield of 2.16%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.33%.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction 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 completion of the sale, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at $16,240,000. This represents a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, 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 transaction of $1,636,740.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This trade represents a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

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.