Azimuth Capital Investment Management LLC Has $10.96 Million Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Azimuth Capital Investment Management LLC decreased its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 36.2% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 48,052 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 27,284 shares during the period. Azimuth Capital Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $10,958,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Compass Financial Services Inc acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at about $29,000. PrairieView Partners LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth about $34,000. Kentucky Trust Co purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth about $40,000. Finally, R Squared Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at about $43,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Trading Down 1.0 %

Shares of Union Pacific stock opened at $207.88 on Wednesday. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $239.46 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $237.91. The firm has a market capitalization of $124.58 billion, a PE ratio of 18.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $258.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62.

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

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.58%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is 48.33%.

Insider Buying and Selling 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 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 sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of Union Pacific 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 transaction, the president now owns 64,960 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $16,240,000. This trade represents a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently commented on UNP shares. Susquehanna dropped their price objective on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $255.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 27th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, March 7th. They set a “buy” rating and a $295.00 price target on the stock. Raymond James reaffirmed a “strong-buy” rating and issued a $285.00 price objective (up previously from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Benchmark increased their target price 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. Finally, TD Cowen boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $261.76.

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.