Easterly Investment Partners LLC Makes New $5.20 Million Investment in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Easterly Investment Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 22,790 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $5,197,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,927,377,000. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 14.0% in the 4th quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 35,139 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $8,013,000 after purchasing an additional 4,302 shares during the last quarter. AssuredPartners Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $305,000. NEOS Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 10.9% during the fourth quarter. NEOS Investment Management LLC now owns 43,880 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $10,006,000 after buying an additional 4,320 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UniSuper Management Pty Ltd increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 257.4% during the fourth quarter. UniSuper Management Pty Ltd now owns 307,667 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $70,160,000 after buying an additional 221,587 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNP has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Citigroup upped their target price on Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. TD Cowen upped their price objective on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Raymond James reiterated a “strong-buy” rating and set a $285.00 target price (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Guggenheim boosted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Friday, March 7th. They set a “buy” rating and a $295.00 target price on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $263.00.

Union Pacific Trading Up 1.0 %

Shares of UNP opened at $238.04 on Thursday. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $243.12 and its 200-day moving average price is $239.72. 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 Co. has a twelve month low of $218.55 and a twelve month high of $258.07. The stock has a market cap of $143.84 billion, a PE ratio of 21.46, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates 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 company earned $2.71 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.25%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of Union Pacific 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 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 sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 24th. The shares were 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 of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

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.