Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Holdings Cut by Sageworth Trust Co

Sageworth Trust Co reduced its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 18.6% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 879 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 201 shares during the period. Sageworth Trust Co’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $200,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of UNP. Golden State Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth about $366,000. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 4.3% in the 4th quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 76,492 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $17,443,000 after buying an additional 3,127 shares in the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.9% in the fourth quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 1,387,382 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $316,379,000 after buying an additional 25,831 shares during the last quarter. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $16,747,000. Finally, Ledyard National Bank grew its position in Union Pacific by 33.2% in the fourth quarter. Ledyard National Bank now owns 13,591 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $3,099,000 after acquiring an additional 3,390 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on UNP. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on Union Pacific from $288.00 to $283.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Susquehanna cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Robert W. Baird upped their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $261.40.

Insider Activity

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total transaction 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 $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 Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the company’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 value of $1,875,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the president now owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This represents a 10.35 % 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.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.6 %

UNP stock opened at $242.12 on Friday. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $235.20 and its 200 day simple moving average is $240.17. 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 company has a market cap of $146.79 billion, a PE ratio of 21.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a twelve month low of $218.55 and a twelve month high of $258.66.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates 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 in the previous year, the firm earned $2.71 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 12.01 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.21%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 48.33%.

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.