Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Shares Sold by Bridges Investment Management Inc.

Bridges Investment Management Inc. decreased its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 1.3% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 688,793 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 8,862 shares during the period. Union Pacific makes up about 2.2% of Bridges Investment Management Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 10th largest holding. Bridges Investment Management Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $157,072,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Hickory Point Bank & Trust acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at about $788,000. Purkiss Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at about $214,000. PCG Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at about $397,000. Levin Capital Strategies L.P. grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 9.8% in the 4th quarter. Levin Capital Strategies L.P. now owns 58,956 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $13,444,000 after buying an additional 5,266 shares during the period. Finally, Nixon Peabody Trust Co. grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 62.3% in the 4th quarter. Nixon Peabody Trust Co. now owns 1,589 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $362,000 after buying an additional 610 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.8 %

NYSE UNP opened at $246.94 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $239.46 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $240.96. Union Pacific Co. has a fifty-two week low of $218.55 and a fifty-two week high of $258.07. The stock has a market cap of $149.22 billion, a PE ratio of 22.27, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76.

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 analysts’ consensus estimates 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 period last year, the business posted $2.71 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

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 $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.17%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 48.33%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have commented on UNP shares. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. BMO Capital Markets lifted 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. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Raymond James restated a “strong-buy” rating and issued a $285.00 price target (up previously from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, TD Cowen boosted their target price on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $261.40.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 directly 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 legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 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 in the company, 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 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.