Dimensional Fund Advisors LP Boosts Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 2.2% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,256,086 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 69,918 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned 0.53% of Union Pacific worth $799,767,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. QRG Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in Union Pacific by 4.0% in the 4th quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 90,459 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $22,218,000 after acquiring an additional 3,453 shares during the last quarter. Jump Financial LLC bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $518,000. JFS Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 13.2% in the 4th quarter. JFS Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,387 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $341,000 after acquiring an additional 162 shares during the last quarter. Dana Investment Advisors Inc. increased its stake in Union Pacific by 19.0% in the 4th quarter. Dana Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 4,760 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,169,000 after acquiring an additional 761 shares during the last quarter. Finally, AGF Management Ltd. increased its stake in Union Pacific by 3.3% in the 4th quarter. AGF Management Ltd. now owns 29,247 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $7,184,000 after acquiring an additional 930 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,750 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 15th. The stock was 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 approximately $14,170,500. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UNP has been the topic of several analyst reports. Susquehanna boosted their target price on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, April 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on Union Pacific from $248.00 to $274.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, April 11th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $275.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Union Pacific from $198.00 to $210.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Friday, April 26th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, April 26th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $259.61.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of NYSE UNP traded up $0.79 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $247.40. 1,299,524 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,154,729. The company has a quick ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99. The stock has a market cap of $150.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.61, a P/E/G ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a 1 year low of $190.71 and a 1 year high of $258.66. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $242.06 and a 200 day moving average of $237.20.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.69 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.50 by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $5.97 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 44.34% and a net margin of 26.52%. The firm's quarterly revenue was down .4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.67 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.22 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

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

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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