Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Shares Sold by CENTRAL TRUST Co

CENTRAL TRUST Co lessened its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 32.4% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 107,683 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 51,504 shares during the quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $24,556,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Greenleaf Trust lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 4.0% during the 4th quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 20,562 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $4,689,000 after purchasing an additional 788 shares during the period. Golden State Equity Partners increased its stake in Union Pacific by 1,041.5% in the fourth quarter. Golden State Equity Partners now owns 4,977 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,135,000 after purchasing an additional 4,541 shares during the last quarter. Journey Strategic Wealth LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific by 6.1% during the fourth quarter. Journey Strategic Wealth LLC now owns 4,922 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,123,000 after buying an additional 284 shares during the period. Osborne Partners Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Osborne Partners Capital Management LLC now owns 60,119 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $13,709,000 after buying an additional 356 shares during the last quarter. Finally, DAVENPORT & Co LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 314,848 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $71,778,000 after buying an additional 4,336 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently issued reports on UNP. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Benchmark boosted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. TD Cowen increased their target price on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Susquehanna lowered their price target on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Raymond James restated a “strong-buy” rating and issued a $285.00 price objective (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, January 24th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with 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.com, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $263.30.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on 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 sale, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at $6,632,388. The trade was a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction 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 firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction 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. The trade was 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 corporate insiders.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UNP opened at $247.85 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. Union Pacific Co. has a fifty-two week low of $218.55 and a fifty-two week high of $258.66. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $235.41 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $240.14. The firm has a market cap of $150.26 billion, a PE ratio of 22.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 1.06.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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 period last year, the firm earned $2.71 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 12.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Investors of record on Monday, December 9th were paid a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 9th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.16%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.33%.

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.