Harbert Fund Advisors Inc. Buys 3,925 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Harbert Fund Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 127.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 7,000 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 3,925 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific accounts for 0.8% of Harbert Fund Advisors Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 29th biggest position. Harbert Fund Advisors Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,596,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. EnRich Financial Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 0.6% in the fourth quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 268,407 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $61,208,000 after buying an additional 1,680 shares in the last quarter. Redwood Park Advisors LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $564,000. Phoenix Financial Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 77.6% during the fourth quarter. Phoenix Financial Ltd. now owns 32,553 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $7,423,000 after acquiring an additional 14,219 shares in the last quarter. Finally, F M Investments LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 30.0% in the 4th quarter. F M Investments LLC now owns 24,868 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $5,671,000 after acquiring an additional 5,746 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the stock. Susquehanna decreased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $255.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Citigroup raised Union Pacific from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lowered their target price for the company from $260.00 to $244.00 in a research note on Tuesday. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. 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. Finally, Benchmark raised their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $260.32.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP stock opened at $219.16 on Friday. The business’s fifty day moving average is $237.98 and its 200 day moving average is $237.47. 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 market cap of $131.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.76, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a twelve month low of $204.66 and a twelve month high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued 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 business posted $2.71 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were given a $1.34 dividend. 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 2.45%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, 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 sale, the president now directly 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 transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, 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 position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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.