Conning Inc. Boosts Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Conning Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 7.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 160,594 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 10,944 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific comprises approximately 1.3% of Conning Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 16th biggest position. Conning Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $36,622,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of UNP. Golden State Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $366,000. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd raised its position in Union Pacific by 4.3% in the fourth quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 76,492 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $17,443,000 after purchasing an additional 3,127 shares during the period. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 1.9% during the fourth quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 1,387,382 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $316,379,000 after purchasing an additional 25,831 shares in the last quarter. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $16,747,000. Finally, Ledyard National Bank grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 33.2% in the fourth quarter. Ledyard National Bank now owns 13,591 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $3,099,000 after buying an additional 3,390 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the firm’s 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 transaction, 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 ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total value 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 approximately $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % 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.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.6 %

UNP stock opened at $242.12 on Friday. The company’s 50 day moving average is $235.20 and its two-hundred day moving average is $240.17. Union Pacific Co. has a twelve month low of $218.55 and a twelve month high of $258.66. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. 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 (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings results 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 period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.71 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 12.01 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors 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 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.21%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 48.33%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UNP has been the topic of several research reports. Barclays increased their target price on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 13th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Guggenheim upped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $263.00 to $252.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target 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.