Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Shares Acquired by Stiles Financial Services Inc

Stiles Financial Services Inc boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 29.6% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,915 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 666 shares during the period. Stiles Financial Services Inc’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $664,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 346.5% in the third quarter. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt now owns 5,483 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,351,000 after purchasing an additional 4,255 shares during the last quarter. First Affirmative Financial Network increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 17.5% during the 3rd quarter. First Affirmative Financial Network now owns 1,461 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $360,000 after purchasing an additional 218 shares during the last quarter. Perfromance Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $252,000. Matrix Asset Advisors Inc. NY boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 8.1% during the 3rd quarter. Matrix Asset Advisors Inc. NY now owns 67,900 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $16,736,000 after buying an additional 5,070 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Annex Advisory Services LLC grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 13.1% during the third quarter. Annex Advisory Services LLC now owns 62,632 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $15,438,000 after buying an additional 7,259 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. TD Cowen upped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Barclays increased their target price on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. Guggenheim lifted their target price on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Raymond James reissued a “strong-buy” rating and set a $285.00 price target (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $261.40.

Union Pacific Price Performance

UNP opened at $242.12 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $146.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.83, a PEG ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 1.06. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $235.14 and a 200-day moving average of $240.17. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $218.55 and a 12-month high of $258.66.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced 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 period in the prior year, the company posted $2.71 earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 12.01 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.21%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction on Friday, January 24th. The stock was 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 owns 64,960 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This trade represents a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the business’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 completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at $6,632,388. This trade represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is currently 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.