South Dakota Investment Council Sells 1,200 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

South Dakota Investment Council trimmed its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 2.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 45,099 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 1,200 shares during the period. South Dakota Investment Council’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $11,077,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. BluePath Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the third quarter worth approximately $25,000. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth $44,000. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 48.6% during the 3rd quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC now owns 309 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $63,000 after buying an additional 101 shares during the period. Finally, Legacy Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter worth $83,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Union Pacific news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,750 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $937,500.00. Following the sale, the president now owns 56,682 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $14,170,500. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP traded up $1.82 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $236.29. The stock had a trading volume of 1,980,821 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,306,394. The company’s fifty day moving average is $244.85 and its two-hundred day moving average is $234.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.11, a current ratio of 0.81 and a quick ratio of 0.67. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $190.37 and a 52 week high of $258.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $144.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.59, a P/E/G ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 1.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.71 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.56 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a net margin of 26.45% and a return on equity of 46.87%. The business had revenue of $6.16 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.05 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.67 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down .3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.01 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 29th were issued a dividend of $1.30 per share. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.20%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 49.71%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently issued reports on UNP shares. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $231.00 to $248.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, April 12th. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Monday, April 8th. They set a “hold” rating and a $250.00 price objective for the company. TD Cowen upped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $228.00 to $251.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 26th. Susquehanna upped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $245.00 to $255.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 28th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $237.00 to $243.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 9th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $255.00.

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.