Picton Mahoney Asset Management Boosts Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Picton Mahoney Asset Management increased its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 45.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 88,197 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 27,492 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific comprises approximately 0.6% of Picton Mahoney Asset Management’s portfolio, making the stock its 18th largest position. Picton Mahoney Asset Management’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $21,665,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Silver Oak Advisory Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $219,000. Personal CFO Solutions LLC boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 39.3% during the third quarter. Personal CFO Solutions LLC now owns 1,407 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $287,000 after buying an additional 397 shares during the period. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $238,000. Nordea Investment Management AB raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 46.9% in the 4th quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 87,905 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $21,596,000 after buying an additional 28,052 shares during the period. Finally, Procyon Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 48.3% during the 4th quarter. Procyon Advisors LLC now owns 18,512 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $4,547,000 after acquiring an additional 6,031 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UNP has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Susquehanna boosted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, April 26th. Raymond James reiterated a “strong-buy” rating and set a $280.00 target price (up from $275.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 26th. Evercore ISI upped their price objective on Union Pacific from $271.00 to $273.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, April 26th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on Union Pacific from $282.00 to $272.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 26th. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Union Pacific from $198.00 to $210.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, April 26th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $259.61.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In other news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,750 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $937,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the president now owns 56,682 shares in the company, valued at $14,170,500. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP traded up $3.26 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $242.47. 1,585,332 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,293,755. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $242.47 and its 200-day simple moving average is $236.79. The stock has a market capitalization of $147.94 billion, a PE ratio of 23.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.55 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a 52-week low of $190.71 and a 52-week high of $258.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.76.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.50 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a net margin of 26.52% and a return on equity of 44.34%. The company had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.97 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.67 EPS. Union Pacific’s revenue for the quarter was down .4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.21 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 29th were given a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 28th. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.14%. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 49.62%.

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.