Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Shares Bought by Summit Global Investments

Summit Global Investments lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 14.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 50,967 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 6,295 shares during the period. Union Pacific accounts for 0.7% of Summit Global Investments’ portfolio, making the stock its 28th biggest holding. Summit Global Investments’ holdings in Union Pacific were worth $11,622,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of UNP. Howard Capital Management Group LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 16.4% in the 3rd quarter. Howard Capital Management Group LLC now owns 2,860 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $705,000 after buying an additional 403 shares in the last quarter. Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the third quarter worth $500,000. LPL Financial LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 4.6% during the third quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 1,070,709 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $263,908,000 after purchasing an additional 47,553 shares during the period. Pacer Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 19.5% during the third quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 62,549 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $15,417,000 after purchasing an additional 10,205 shares during the period. Finally, Eagle Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 8.4% during the third quarter. Eagle Asset Management Inc. now owns 391,776 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $94,610,000 after purchasing an additional 30,383 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UNP has been the topic of several research analyst reports. TD Cowen raised 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. Raymond James reiterated a “strong-buy” rating and set a $285.00 price objective (up previously from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Citigroup increased their price target on Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Benchmark boosted their price objective on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $263.00.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.4 %

Union Pacific stock opened at $233.79 on Friday. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $218.55 and a 52 week 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 firm has a market capitalization of $141.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.08, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $242.68 and a 200 day moving average price of $240.16.

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

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.29%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is 48.33%.

Insider Activity

In other Union Pacific news, 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 transaction, the president now owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This represents a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction on 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 sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares of the company’s stock, 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 owned by corporate insiders.

Union Pacific 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.