Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Shares Purchased by WCM Investment Management LLC

WCM Investment Management LLC boosted its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 150.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 14,718 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 8,848 shares during the period. WCM Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $3,353,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of UNP. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 20.7% during the fourth quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 43,410 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $9,899,000 after purchasing an additional 7,432 shares during the last quarter. Forbes J M & Co. LLP boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. Forbes J M & Co. LLP now owns 54,127 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $12,343,000 after buying an additional 192 shares during the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.7% in the 4th quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 54,419 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $12,410,000 after buying an additional 1,456 shares during the period. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC now owns 23,982 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $5,469,000 after acquiring an additional 148 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Apollon Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 3.0% during the 4th quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC now owns 41,472 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $9,457,000 after acquiring an additional 1,204 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE:UNP opened at $242.12 on Monday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $235.14 and a two-hundred day moving average of $240.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.63. The stock has a market cap of $146.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.83, 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.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates 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 earned $2.71 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 12.01 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

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

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In other news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total value of $1,636,740.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,632,388. The trade was a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, 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 sale, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This 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 currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UNP has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Susquehanna lowered their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th. Loop Capital cut shares of Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $265.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Barclays increased their target price on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $288.00 to $283.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $261.40.

Union Pacific Company 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.