Navellier & Associates Inc. Acquires 1,370 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Navellier & Associates Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 21.2% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 7,843 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,370 shares during the quarter. Navellier & Associates Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,789,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.2% during the fourth quarter. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators now owns 4,272 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $974,000 after acquiring an additional 52 shares during the period. Dividend Assets Capital LLC grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 2.5% during the fourth quarter. Dividend Assets Capital LLC now owns 37,874 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $8,637,000 after purchasing an additional 924 shares in the last quarter. Drum Hill Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at about $675,000. Blackston Financial Advisory Group LLC grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 11.3% during the fourth quarter. Blackston Financial Advisory Group LLC now owns 1,449 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $330,000 after purchasing an additional 147 shares in the last quarter. Finally, VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at about $64,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.9 %

Shares of NYSE:UNP opened at $245.43 on Friday. Union Pacific Co. has a 1 year low of $218.55 and a 1 year high of $258.66. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $237.68 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $240.69. The firm has a market capitalization of $148.31 billion, a PE ratio of 22.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 quarter last year, the firm earned $2.71 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be given 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 2.18%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.33%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In other news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 completion of the sale, the president now owns 64,960 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on UNP shares. Guggenheim raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Susquehanna cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Benchmark raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, TD Cowen raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $261.40.

Union Pacific 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.