Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Shares Sold by Phoenix Wealth Advisors

Phoenix Wealth Advisors decreased its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 3.1% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 11,388 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 370 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific comprises about 1.1% of Phoenix Wealth Advisors’ portfolio, making the stock its 28th biggest position. Phoenix Wealth Advisors’ holdings in Union Pacific were worth $2,597,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 13.6% in the 2nd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 120,394 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $27,240,000 after purchasing an additional 14,388 shares in the last quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific by 179.9% during the 2nd quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC now owns 8,427 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,907,000 after acquiring an additional 5,416 shares during the period. Sagefield Capital LP lifted its position in Union Pacific by 5.1% during the 2nd quarter. Sagefield Capital LP now owns 30,310 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $6,858,000 after acquiring an additional 1,473 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP lifted its position in Union Pacific by 272.3% during the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 1,678,108 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $379,689,000 after acquiring an additional 1,227,318 shares during the period. Finally, BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp lifted its position in Union Pacific by 18.5% during the 2nd quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp now owns 250,193 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $56,609,000 after acquiring an additional 39,066 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Trading Up 1.1 %

UNP opened at $236.73 on Wednesday. Union Pacific Co. has a one year low of $218.55 and a one year high of $258.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $143.52 billion, a PE ratio of 21.74, a P/E/G ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 1.06. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $233.63 and its 200 day moving average price is $239.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 0.77.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.78 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.14 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.33% and a return on equity of 41.79%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.51 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.96 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 9th were given a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.26%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 9th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 49.22%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have commented on the company. Citigroup lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $267.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Barclays lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. Sanford C. Bernstein reduced their price objective on Union Pacific from $277.00 to $272.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. Susquehanna reduced their price objective on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Raymond James lifted their price objective on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 10th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $259.35.

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.