Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Shares Sold by Souders Financial Advisors

Souders Financial Advisors trimmed its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 28.4% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 11,495 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 4,552 shares during the quarter. Souders Financial Advisors’ holdings in Union Pacific were worth $2,621,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in UNP. Triad Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at about $314,000. Jag Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 1.6% during the fourth quarter. Jag Capital Management LLC now owns 13,570 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $3,095,000 after purchasing an additional 208 shares during the last quarter. Alley Investment Management Company LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.0% during the fourth quarter. Alley Investment Management Company LLC now owns 78,195 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $17,832,000 after buying an additional 1,544 shares in the last quarter. Torray Investment Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 33.4% in the fourth quarter. Torray Investment Partners LLC now owns 20,398 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $4,652,000 after buying an additional 5,105 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Exencial Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 2,025.6% during the 4th quarter. Exencial Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 29,716 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $6,777,000 after acquiring an additional 28,318 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of Union Pacific stock opened at $241.43 on Wednesday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $240.06 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $240.95. Union Pacific Co. has a fifty-two week low of $218.55 and a fifty-two 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. The company has a market cap of $145.90 billion, a PE ratio of 21.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06.

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, beating the consensus estimate of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $2.71 EPS. Analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced 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 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.22%. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is presently 48.33%.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In related news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total value of $1,636,740.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,632,388. This trade represents a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $1,875,000.00. Following the sale, the president now owns 64,960 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This represents a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on UNP. Benchmark boosted their target price on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Guggenheim boosted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective 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. Raymond James reissued a “strong-buy” rating and set a $285.00 target price (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 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, seven have issued a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $261.40.

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.