Colonial Trust Advisors Lowers Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Colonial Trust Advisors reduced its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 0.3% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 70,033 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 190 shares during the period. Union Pacific makes up 1.4% of Colonial Trust Advisors’ portfolio, making the stock its 17th largest holding. Colonial Trust Advisors’ holdings in Union Pacific were worth $15,970,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Phoenix Financial Ltd. boosted its position in Union Pacific by 77.6% in the 4th quarter. Phoenix Financial Ltd. now owns 32,553 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $7,423,000 after buying an additional 14,219 shares during the period. F M Investments LLC raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 30.0% during the 4th quarter. F M Investments LLC now owns 24,868 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $5,671,000 after acquiring an additional 5,746 shares in the last quarter. CenterBook Partners LP acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $262,000. Texas Yale Capital Corp. increased its stake in Union Pacific by 8.5% during the 4th quarter. Texas Yale Capital Corp. now owns 4,775 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,089,000 after purchasing an additional 375 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Faithward Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 27.1% in the fourth quarter. Faithward Advisors LLC now owns 1,883 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $429,000 after acquiring an additional 402 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of Union Pacific stock opened at $223.77 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $134.11 billion, a PE ratio of 20.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $258.07. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $238.46 and a 200-day moving average price of $237.67. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share 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 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.40%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is 48.33%.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In other news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated 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 completion of the sale, the president now owns 64,960 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated 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 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 position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Benchmark raised their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. UBS Group cut their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Citigroup upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $260.00 to $244.00 in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $260.32.

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.