Epoch Investment Partners Inc. Acquires 86,396 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Epoch Investment Partners Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 8.1% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,152,459 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 86,396 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific accounts for 1.3% of Epoch Investment Partners Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 10th largest position. Epoch Investment Partners Inc. owned 0.19% of Union Pacific worth $262,807,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. First Trust Advisors LP lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 318.3% during the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,018,219 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $232,195,000 after buying an additional 774,828 shares during the last quarter. Fidelity National Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $22,804,000. Forum Financial Management LP raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 3.4% during the 4th quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 8,807 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,008,000 after acquiring an additional 288 shares in the last quarter. Generation Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $524,000. Finally, Capital International Sarl boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 9.6% in the fourth quarter. Capital International Sarl now owns 4,706 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,073,000 after purchasing an additional 414 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UNP has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. TD Cowen raised their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Guggenheim boosted their price objective on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, March 7th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $295.00 target price on the stock. Finally, UBS Group lowered their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $257.50.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated 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 completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 completion of the sale, the president now owns 64,960 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This trade represents a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.19% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Trading Up 1.7 %

Shares of UNP stock opened at $220.26 on Friday. 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 50-day simple moving average of $235.02 and a 200 day simple moving average of $236.47. Union Pacific Co. has a fifty-two week low of $204.66 and a fifty-two week high of $258.07. The stock has a market capitalization of $132.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.86, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share for the quarter, beating 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 quarter last year, the business posted $2.71 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were given a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.43%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) 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.