Aware Super Pty Ltd as trustee of Aware Super Invests $4.78 Million in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Aware Super Pty Ltd as trustee of Aware Super bought a new stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor bought 20,969 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $4,782,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Compass Financial Services Inc purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. EnRich Financial Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. PrairieView Partners LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, Kentucky Trust Co purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at $40,000. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $1,875,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This represents a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of Union Pacific 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 directly owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNP opened at $222.18 on Tuesday. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $133.16 billion, a PE ratio of 20.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $237.03 and its 200-day moving average price is $237.08. Union Pacific Co. has a twelve month low of $204.66 and a twelve month high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.71 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were given a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.41%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 48.33%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on UNP. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. Benchmark raised their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Loop Capital cut shares of Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $265.00 to $200.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, March 7th. They set a “buy” rating and a $295.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $257.43.

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.