Bedel Financial Consulting Inc. Sells 117 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Bedel Financial Consulting Inc. reduced its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 6.4% in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 1,700 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 117 shares during the period. Bedel Financial Consulting Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $416,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 4.5% during the fourth quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 132,571 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $30,232,000 after buying an additional 5,725 shares in the last quarter. Meridian Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. Meridian Wealth Management LLC now owns 19,006 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $4,334,000 after acquiring an additional 79 shares in the last quarter. Mission Wealth Management LP grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 8.8% in the 4th quarter. Mission Wealth Management LP now owns 12,626 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,879,000 after acquiring an additional 1,018 shares in the last quarter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC now owns 8,942 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,173,000 after acquiring an additional 134 shares in the last quarter. Finally, LGT Group Foundation grew its position in Union Pacific by 7.5% in the 4th quarter. LGT Group Foundation now owns 4,921 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,122,000 after purchasing an additional 345 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have issued reports on UNP. Guggenheim upped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research 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. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Loop Capital lowered shares of Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating and reduced their price target for the company from $265.00 to $200.00 in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Barclays increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $261.40.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $1,875,000.00. Following the transaction, the president now directly 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 sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total value of $1,636,740.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,632,388. The trade was a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP opened at $245.50 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $148.35 billion, a PE ratio of 22.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $239.83 and a 200-day moving average price of $240.97. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $218.55 and a 12-month high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share (EPS) 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 firm earned $2.71 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts forecast 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 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 2.18%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

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.