Bank of New York Mellon Corp Buys 118,999 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 2.5% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 4,821,979 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 118,999 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,099,604,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Howard Capital Management Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 16.4% during the 3rd quarter. Howard Capital Management Group LLC now owns 2,860 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $705,000 after buying an additional 403 shares in the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 15.3% during the third quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 42,514 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $10,383,000 after acquiring an additional 5,646 shares during the period. Arkadios Wealth Advisors lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 51.7% in the third quarter. Arkadios Wealth Advisors now owns 3,636 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $896,000 after acquiring an additional 1,239 shares in the last quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 4.3% in the third quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 1,258 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $310,000 after acquiring an additional 52 shares during the period. Finally, J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 8.8% during the third quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 13,694 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $3,375,000 after purchasing an additional 1,103 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UNP has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. TD Cowen boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $261.40.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated 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 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 transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of Union Pacific 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 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 owned by corporate insiders.

Union Pacific Trading Down 1.3 %

UNP stock opened at $242.39 on Tuesday. Union Pacific Co. has a twelve month low of $218.55 and a twelve month high of $258.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $146.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. 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 firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $237.87 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $240.74.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 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 in the prior year, the business posted $2.71 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.21%. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 48.33%.

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.