Krane Funds Advisors LLC Trims Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Krane Funds Advisors LLC trimmed its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 8.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,137 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 106 shares during the quarter. Krane Funds Advisors LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $259,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Elgethun Capital Management boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 8.1% in the 4th quarter. Elgethun Capital Management now owns 1,421 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $324,000 after purchasing an additional 106 shares during the period. Twin Capital Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 35.6% in the fourth quarter. Twin Capital Management Inc. now owns 4,537 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,035,000 after buying an additional 1,190 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 4.6% during the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 6,439,861 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,468,546,000 after buying an additional 285,401 shares during the period. Trek Financial LLC grew its position in Union Pacific by 41.3% during the fourth quarter. Trek Financial LLC now owns 4,043 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $922,000 after buying an additional 1,181 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Titleist Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 5.3% in the 4th quarter. Titleist Asset Management LLC now owns 3,960 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $903,000 after acquiring an additional 198 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Trading Down 5.0 %

NYSE:UNP opened at $212.86 on Monday. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $202.38 and a 12 month high of $258.07. The stock has a market cap of $127.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.19, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $242.01 and a 200-day moving average price of $238.66. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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 firm posted $2.71 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.52%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 48.33%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the business’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 value of $1,875,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the 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 sale, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % 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.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. TD Cowen upped their price objective on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Friday, March 7th. They set a “buy” rating and a $295.00 price objective on the stock. Susquehanna cut their target price on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $255.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Finally, Citigroup increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $261.95.

About Union Pacific

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.