Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC Lowers Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC decreased its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 0.6% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 34,478 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 218 shares during the quarter. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $7,862,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. AXQ Capital LP purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth about $407,000. Umpqua Bank raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 5.0% in the 4th quarter. Umpqua Bank now owns 3,575 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $820,000 after purchasing an additional 170 shares during the period. Intellus Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth about $10,569,000. Sei Investments Co. raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 8.3% in the 4th quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 262,987 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $59,971,000 after purchasing an additional 20,147 shares during the period. Finally, Plancorp LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. Plancorp LLC now owns 13,408 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $3,058,000 after purchasing an additional 262 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.4 %

UNP opened at $233.79 on Friday. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $218.55 and a 52 week high of $258.07. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $242.68 and a 200-day simple moving average of $240.16. The firm has a market cap of $141.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.08, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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 company earned $2.71 EPS. On average, equities 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 disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.29%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

Insider Activity

In other Union Pacific news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on 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 sale, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at $16,240,000. This trade represents a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on 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 sale, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Loop Capital cut Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating and reduced their target price for the company from $265.00 to $200.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Raymond James reissued a “strong-buy” rating and set a $285.00 target price (up previously from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, January 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, March 7th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $295.00 price target for the company. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research 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 given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $263.00.

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.