Strategic Advisors LLC Sells 5,923 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Strategic Advisors LLC lowered its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 83.9% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,136 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 5,923 shares during the quarter. Strategic Advisors LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $259,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Sierra Ocean LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth about $143,000. Monument Capital Management lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 23.6% in the fourth quarter. Monument Capital Management now owns 1,120 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $255,000 after acquiring an additional 214 shares during the last quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 0.5% in the fourth quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 13,765 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $3,139,000 after acquiring an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. Valmark Advisers Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.8% in the fourth quarter. Valmark Advisers Inc. now owns 10,955 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,498,000 after acquiring an additional 196 shares during the last quarter. Finally, L.M. Kohn & Company lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.1% in the fourth quarter. L.M. Kohn & Company now owns 4,970 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,133,000 after acquiring an additional 55 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP stock opened at $249.27 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $151.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $218.55 and a 52 week high of $258.66. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $236.34 and a 200-day moving average of $240.41.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 EPS for the quarter, topping 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 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 12.01 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.15%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.33%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $1,875,000.00. Following the transaction, the president now directly 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 document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the stock in a transaction 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 in the company, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $288.00 to $283.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Loop Capital lowered shares of Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $265.00 to $200.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has an average 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.