Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Shares Sold by King Luther Capital Management Corp

King Luther Capital Management Corp cut its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 0.5% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,124,569 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 5,498 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific accounts for 1.1% of King Luther Capital Management Corp’s holdings, making the stock its 22nd largest holding. King Luther Capital Management Corp’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $256,447,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Sage Mountain Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 10.0% in the fourth quarter. Sage Mountain Advisors LLC now owns 4,292 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $979,000 after buying an additional 390 shares in the last quarter. Davis R M Inc. boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 0.7% in the fourth quarter. Davis R M Inc. now owns 157,396 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $35,893,000 after purchasing an additional 1,135 shares during the period. Clare Market Investments LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $1,936,000. Tortoise Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.5% in the fourth quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 2,885 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $658,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares during the period. Finally, Independent Advisor Alliance boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 6.4% in the fourth quarter. Independent Advisor Alliance now owns 35,161 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $8,018,000 after purchasing an additional 2,107 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.5 %

Union Pacific stock opened at $247.97 on Tuesday. Union Pacific Co. has a fifty-two week low of $218.55 and a fifty-two 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 has a market capitalization of $149.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.36, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $241.44 and a 200-day simple moving average of $240.98.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly 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 return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.71 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.16%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.33%.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $1,875,000.00. Following the transaction, the president now owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total value of $1,636,740.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at $6,632,388. This trade represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UNP has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Loop Capital lowered Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating and decreased their target price for the company from $265.00 to $200.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Barclays lifted their target price on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. Raymond James reiterated a “strong-buy” rating and issued a $285.00 target price (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, January 24th. Guggenheim lifted their target price on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their target price on Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $263.00.

About Union Pacific

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.