Fortis Capital Advisors LLC Decreases Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Fortis Capital Advisors LLC cut its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 5.1% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 938 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 50 shares during the quarter. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $214,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 6.4% during the fourth quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 370,154 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $84,440,000 after purchasing an additional 22,189 shares during the period. Sterling Capital Management LLC raised its position in Union Pacific by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 13,889 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $3,167,000 after buying an additional 376 shares during the last quarter. Heritage Trust Co acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $3,414,000. Jaffetilchin Investment Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 8.7% in the 4th quarter. Jaffetilchin Investment Partners LLC now owns 13,002 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,965,000 after acquiring an additional 1,043 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Eley Financial Management Inc raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 2.0% during the fourth quarter. Eley Financial Management Inc now owns 19,246 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $4,389,000 after purchasing an additional 377 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity

In other news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $1,875,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the president now owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at $16,240,000. This trade represents a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 owns 26,319 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,632,388. The trade was a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE UNP opened at $218.43 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62. Union Pacific Co. has a 1-year low of $204.66 and a 1-year high of $258.07. The company has a market cap of $130.91 billion, a PE ratio of 19.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $237.48 and its 200-day simple moving average is $237.28.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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 last year, the business earned $2.71 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.45%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 27th. UBS Group dropped their target price on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Raymond James decreased their price target on Union Pacific from $285.00 to $260.00 and set a “strong-buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Citigroup upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and decreased their target price for the company from $260.00 to $244.00 in a research note on Tuesday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $258.48.

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.