Erste Asset Management GmbH Has $5.70 Million Stock Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Erste Asset Management GmbH lessened its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 21.0% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 24,786 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 6,580 shares during the quarter. Erste Asset Management GmbH’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $5,699,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Achmea Investment Management B.V. boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 91.8% during the 4th quarter. Achmea Investment Management B.V. now owns 3,633 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $828,000 after acquiring an additional 1,739 shares in the last quarter. Tredje AP fonden boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 51.1% during the 4th quarter. Tredje AP fonden now owns 256,129 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $58,408,000 after acquiring an additional 86,618 shares in the last quarter. Essential Planning LLC. acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $4,321,000. Liberty Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Liberty Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,697 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $387,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Truvestments Capital LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 5.4% in the 4th quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC now owns 2,633 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $600,000 after purchasing an additional 135 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Up 1.5 %

Shares of NYSE UNP opened at $237.71 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $143.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. Union Pacific Co. has a 52-week low of $218.55 and a 52-week 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. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $242.05 and its 200-day moving average price is $240.77.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released 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 net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.71 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.25%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. 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 the company’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 transaction, the president now owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This represents a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, 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 $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNP has been the topic of several research analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets raised 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. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, March 7th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $295.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 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 assigned a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price 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.