Realta Investment Advisors Lowers Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Realta Investment Advisors trimmed its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 5.0% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,349 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 71 shares during the quarter. Realta Investment Advisors’ holdings in Union Pacific were worth $312,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brookstone Capital Management boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.0% in the third quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 19,239 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $4,742,000 after buying an additional 196 shares in the last quarter. Marcum Wealth LLC lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 4.4% in the third quarter. Marcum Wealth LLC now owns 2,795 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $689,000 after acquiring an additional 118 shares during the period. Wedmont Private Capital boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 10.8% during the 3rd quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 4,743 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,123,000 after purchasing an additional 462 shares in the last quarter. Sanibel Captiva Trust Company Inc. grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. Sanibel Captiva Trust Company Inc. now owns 5,602 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,381,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. Finally, Hoese & Co LLP increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 3,076.9% in the 3rd quarter. Hoese & Co LLP now owns 413 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $102,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts recently commented on UNP shares. Loop Capital downgraded shares of Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $265.00 to $200.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. TD Cowen boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Guggenheim raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted 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. Finally, Raymond James restated a “strong-buy” rating and issued a $285.00 price target (up previously from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, January 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $261.40.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In related news, 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 transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This trade represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction 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 transaction, the president now owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at $16,240,000. The trade was 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.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.6 %

Shares of UNP opened at $242.12 on Friday. Union Pacific Co. has a fifty-two week low of $218.55 and a fifty-two week high of $258.66. The company has a market capitalization 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. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $235.20 and a two-hundred day moving average of $240.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 0.77.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 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 period last year, the company earned $2.71 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 12.01 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.21%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 48.33%.

About Union Pacific

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.