Procyon Advisors LLC Boosts Stock Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Procyon Advisors LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 48.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 18,512 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 6,031 shares during the period. Procyon Advisors LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $4,547,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 90,390.6% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 13,697,556 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $2,836,353,000 after acquiring an additional 13,682,419 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at $1,276,498,000. Clearbridge Investments LLC increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 108.9% in the 3rd quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 4,128,575 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $840,702,000 after buying an additional 2,151,893 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC raised its position in Union Pacific by 62.8% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 5,496,708 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,119,295,000 after buying an additional 2,119,382 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 638.3% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 2,014,327 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $550,334,000 after acquiring an additional 1,741,490 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Price Performance

UNP traded up $1.30 during trading on Thursday, hitting $245.93. 2,262,378 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,366,143. The company has a current ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.11. The company has a market cap of $149.96 billion, a PE ratio of 23.53, a P/E/G ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 1.07. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $247.65 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $230.50. Union Pacific Co. has a 1 year low of $190.37 and a 1 year high of $258.66.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.56 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 46.87% and a net margin of 26.45%. The firm had revenue of $6.16 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.05 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.67 earnings per share. The business's revenue was down .3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 29th will be issued a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.11%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 28th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 49.71%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $228.00 to $251.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, January 26th. Susquehanna raised their price target on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $275.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Sanford C. Bernstein raised shares of Union Pacific from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $280.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of Union Pacific from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, March 18th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $251.33.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,750 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $937,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now owns 56,682 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $14,170,500. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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.