Sanctuary Advisors LLC Trims Stock Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Sanctuary Advisors LLC cut its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 4.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 114,432 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 5,571 shares during the quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $28,599,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of UNP. State Street Corp boosted its position in Union Pacific by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 24,788,337 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $6,109,829,000 after acquiring an additional 217,780 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 12,813,686 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $3,146,451,000 after purchasing an additional 182,620 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 9.3% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 7,322,450 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,795,993,000 after purchasing an additional 625,492 shares in the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 2.3% in the 3rd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 6,285,585 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,549,271,000 after purchasing an additional 143,896 shares in the last quarter. Finally, FMR LLC boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 5,020,107 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,237,356,000 after purchasing an additional 31,899 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Union Pacific stock traded up $0.58 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $247.64. The stock had a trading volume of 1,425,402 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,682,249. The firm's 50 day moving average is $237.20 and its 200 day moving average is $240.57. Union Pacific Co. has a one year low of $218.55 and a one year high of $258.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $149.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.33, a P/E/G ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data 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 net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.71 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.16%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is 48.33%.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the company'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 sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the 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 sale, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at $16,240,000. This trade represents a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $288.00 to $283.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Loop Capital lowered shares of Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and decreased their target price for the company from $265.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $263.00 to $252.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Guggenheim boosted their target price 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. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $261.40.

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.