161,548 Shares in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Acquired by Fisher Funds Management LTD

Fisher Funds Management LTD acquired a new stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 161,548 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $36,784,000. Union Pacific comprises approximately 0.9% of Fisher Funds Management LTD’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 29th biggest position.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in UNP. First Horizon Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 4.8% in the fourth quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 83,558 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $19,055,000 after buying an additional 3,817 shares during the period. Capital City Trust Co. FL grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Capital City Trust Co. FL now owns 20,249 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $4,618,000 after acquiring an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. Redmond Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 38.2% in the fourth quarter. Redmond Asset Management LLC now owns 1,592 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $363,000 after acquiring an additional 440 shares during the period. Navellier & Associates Inc. raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 21.2% during the fourth quarter. Navellier & Associates Inc. now owns 7,843 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,789,000 after acquiring an additional 1,370 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.2% during the fourth quarter. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators now owns 4,272 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $974,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, 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 owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.9 %

NYSE UNP opened at $245.43 on Friday. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $237.68 and its 200-day moving average price is $240.70. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. The stock has a market cap of $148.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.13, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $218.55 and a 12 month high of $258.66.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share for the quarter, beating 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 last year, the company posted $2.71 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors 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 yield of 2.18%. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on UNP. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Benchmark boosted their target price on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Robert W. Baird raised their price target on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, TD Cowen raised their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a “buy” 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 issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $261.40.

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.