Midwest Professional Planners LTD. Boosts Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Midwest Professional Planners LTD. grew its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 1.0% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 13,398 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 139 shares during the period. Union Pacific makes up about 0.9% of Midwest Professional Planners LTD.’s holdings, making the stock its 29th largest holding. Midwest Professional Planners LTD.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $3,055,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in UNP. Intact Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 20.2% in the fourth quarter. Intact Investment Management Inc. now owns 45,800 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $10,444,000 after acquiring an additional 7,700 shares during the last quarter. Diamond Hill Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 4.1% during the fourth quarter. Diamond Hill Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,890,942 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $431,210,000 after purchasing an additional 74,271 shares in the last quarter. Northwest Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 3.3% during the fourth quarter. Northwest Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,415 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,007,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares in the last quarter. Atala Financial Inc acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $405,000. Finally, LBP AM SA lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 10.5% during the fourth quarter. LBP AM SA now owns 114,391 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $26,086,000 after purchasing an additional 10,829 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In other news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the 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 completion of the sale, 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 ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the president now owns 64,960 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $16,240,000. This trade represents a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP stock opened at $234.36 on Friday. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $241.93 and its two-hundred day moving average is $240.85. The firm has a market cap of $141.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.13, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. Union Pacific Co. has a 1 year low of $218.55 and a 1 year 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.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 earned $2.71 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share 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 paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.29%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.33%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have commented on UNP. Loop Capital cut Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $265.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Raymond James reiterated a “strong-buy” rating and issued a $285.00 price objective (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, March 7th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $295.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $263.00.

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.