Reaves W H & Co. Inc. Trims Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Reaves W H & Co. Inc. trimmed its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 7.1% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 352,343 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 26,783 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific accounts for 3.1% of Reaves W H & Co. Inc.'s portfolio, making the stock its 8th largest position. Reaves W H & Co. Inc. owned approximately 0.06% of Union Pacific worth $86,542,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Clearbridge Investments LLC lifted its position 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 valued at $840,702,000 after acquiring an additional 2,151,893 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 62.8% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 5,496,708 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,119,295,000 after buying an additional 2,119,382 shares during the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased its stake in Union Pacific by 65.5% in the 3rd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 2,348,496 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $478,224,000 after buying an additional 929,495 shares during the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 331.7% in the 4th quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 1,143,298 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $280,817,000 after buying an additional 878,490 shares during the last quarter. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 20,736.8% in the 4th quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 803,677 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $197,399,000 after buying an additional 799,820 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Trading Up 0.3 %

NYSE UNP traded up $0.79 on Friday, hitting $247.40. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,289,886 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,180,770. The company has a quick ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99. Union Pacific Co. has a 1-year low of $190.71 and a 1-year high of $258.66. The company's 50-day moving average is $242.17 and its 200 day moving average is $236.92. The firm has a market cap of $150.94 billion, a PE ratio of 23.61, a PEG ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 1.06.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.69 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.50 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $5.97 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 26.52% and a return on equity of 44.34%. Union Pacific's revenue for the quarter was down .4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.67 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.21 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 28th. Investors of record on Friday, May 31st will be paid a dividend of $1.30 per share. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.10%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 31st. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is presently 49.62%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,750 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $937,500.00. Following the transaction, the president now directly owns 56,682 shares of the company's stock, valued at $14,170,500. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.26% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Susquehanna lifted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, April 26th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, April 26th. Stifel Nicolaus upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $248.00 to $267.00 in a research note on Friday, May 3rd. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $237.00 to $243.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 9th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $259.61.

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.

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