James Investment Research Inc. Sells 2,163 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

James Investment Research Inc. decreased its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 14.6% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 12,604 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 2,163 shares during the quarter. James Investment Research Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $2,874,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $16,747,000. Allworth Financial LP raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 7.7% during the fourth quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 54,649 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $12,886,000 after buying an additional 3,892 shares during the last quarter. Principal Securities Inc. raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 6.2% during the fourth quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 14,936 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $3,406,000 after buying an additional 869 shares during the last quarter. Legacy Capital Wealth Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 9.2% during the fourth quarter. Legacy Capital Wealth Partners LLC now owns 5,166 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,178,000 after buying an additional 437 shares during the last quarter. Finally, TigerOak Management L.L.C. bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $674,000. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In other news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, January 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total transaction of $1,636,740.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the 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 transaction, the president now owns 64,960 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This represents a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Benchmark raised their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Robert W. Baird upped their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $263.00 to $252.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Barclays upped their price objective on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $261.40.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.7 %

Shares of UNP opened at $249.27 on Friday. Union Pacific Co. has a 52-week low of $218.55 and a 52-week high of $258.66. The company has a market capitalization of $151.12 billion, a PE ratio of 22.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 1.06. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $236.34 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $240.49. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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 prior year, the firm posted $2.71 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 12.01 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.15%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 48.33%.

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.