Markel Group Inc. Grows Stake in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Markel Group Inc. raised its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 11.4% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 141,278 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 14,500 shares during the period. Markel Group Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $32,680,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Stephens Consulting LLC grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 48.4% in the fourth quarter. Stephens Consulting LLC now owns 135 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. Macroview Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 3.4% during the fourth quarter. Macroview Investment Management LLC now owns 1,349 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $312,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares in the last quarter. Prestige Wealth Management Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.4% during the third quarter. Prestige Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 3,186 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $753,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 4,988 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,154,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Keebeck Wealth Management lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.7% during the third quarter. Keebeck Wealth Management now owns 2,691 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $636,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on UNP shares. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $289.00 price target (up from $273.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. Barclays reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $315.00 price target (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. Evercore reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $277.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. Robert W. Baird set a $311.00 price target on Union Pacific and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, March 6th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $267.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $280.47.

Union Pacific Trading Up 0.1%

Shares of NYSE:UNP opened at $265.65 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $157.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.88, a PEG ratio of 2.82 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 0.92. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $253.79 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $243.82. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52-week low of $210.84 and a 52-week high of $276.40.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.86 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $6.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.12 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 39.58% and a net margin of 29.20%.The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.70 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.53 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 29th will be given a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 29th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 45.47%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Union Pacific news, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 2,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.70, for a total value of $549,400.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 114,642 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $31,492,157.40. This trade represents a 1.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 1,999 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $234.93, for a total value of $469,625.07. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 31,386 shares of company stock valued at $8,461,716. Insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Company Profile

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services.

Union Pacific’s core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western two‑thirds of the United States.