Bank OZK Acquires 298 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Bank OZK raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 2.7% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 11,409 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 298 shares during the period. Union Pacific accounts for approximately 1.1% of Bank OZK’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th biggest holding. Bank OZK’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $2,602,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Sage Investment Counsel LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $301,000. SVB Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at about $19,278,000. Flputnam Investment Management Co. increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Flputnam Investment Management Co. now owns 126,651 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $28,882,000 after buying an additional 955 shares during the last quarter. Motco increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. Motco now owns 41,721 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $9,514,000 after buying an additional 498 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First American Bank boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. First American Bank now owns 47,372 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $10,803,000 after purchasing an additional 156 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UNP has been the subject of several recent research reports. Guggenheim raised their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Loop Capital downgraded shares of Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating and reduced their price target for the company from $265.00 to $200.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Benchmark boosted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $261.40.

Union Pacific Trading Up 0.8 %

NYSE UNP opened at $246.94 on Friday. Union Pacific Co. has a one year low of $218.55 and a one year high of $258.07. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $239.46 and a 200-day simple moving average of $240.93. 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 $149.22 billion, a PE ratio of 22.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.71 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.17%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 48.33%.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In other news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated 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 owns 64,960 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This represents a 10.35 % 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, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at approximately $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.