Pacer Advisors Inc. Sells 6,534 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Pacer Advisors Inc. lessened its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 10.4% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 56,015 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 6,534 shares during the period. Pacer Advisors Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $12,774,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Regal Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 10.2% during the second quarter. Regal Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,691 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $383,000 after acquiring an additional 156 shares during the last quarter. Truist Financial Corp increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 0.8% during the 2nd quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 930,747 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $210,591,000 after purchasing an additional 7,023 shares during the last quarter. SPC Financial Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 10.5% in the 2nd quarter. SPC Financial Inc. now owns 5,368 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,215,000 after purchasing an additional 511 shares during the period. 3Chopt Investment Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the second quarter worth approximately $203,000. Finally, Wealthquest Corp grew its position in Union Pacific by 8.0% during the second quarter. Wealthquest Corp now owns 1,054 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $238,000 after buying an additional 78 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Price Performance

NYSE:UNP opened at $249.45 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $151.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.91, a P/E/G ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 1.06. The business’s 50-day moving average is $234.45 and its 200 day moving average is $239.81. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $218.55 and a 12 month high of $258.66.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.79% and a net margin of 27.33%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.71 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.96 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, December 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 9th were paid a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 9th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.15%. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is currently 49.22%.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of Union Pacific 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 transaction, the president now owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This trade represents a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 sale, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This trade represents a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on UNP. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on Union Pacific from $263.00 to $252.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. StockNews.com cut Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 1st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price 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. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $263.30.

Union Pacific Company 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.