Transcendent Capital Group LLC Reduces Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Transcendent Capital Group LLC reduced its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 80.1% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 251 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 1,011 shares during the period. Transcendent Capital Group LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $57,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Mengis Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 4.6% in the fourth quarter. Mengis Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,850 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $650,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Pine Valley Investments Ltd Liability Co grew its stake in Union Pacific by 18.4% during the 4th quarter. Pine Valley Investments Ltd Liability Co now owns 12,056 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,749,000 after purchasing an additional 1,872 shares during the last quarter. Pring Turner Capital Group Inc. increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 6.0% in the 4th quarter. Pring Turner Capital Group Inc. now owns 20,756 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $4,733,000 after buying an additional 1,176 shares during the period. BankPlus Trust Department purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $148,000. Finally, Impax Asset Management Group plc lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 14.0% in the 4th quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 622,803 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $142,024,000 after buying an additional 76,567 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UNP opened at $242.39 on Tuesday. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $218.55 and a 12 month high of $258.66. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. The company has a market cap of $146.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.86, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The business’s 50 day moving average is $237.87 and its two-hundred day moving average is $240.74.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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 quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.71 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.21%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 48.33%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the 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 owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at $16,240,000. This represents a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently weighed in on UNP. 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 research note on Friday, January 24th. Guggenheim boosted their target price on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Robert W. Baird raised their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Benchmark lifted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Citigroup boosted their price objective on Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $261.40.

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.