Savant Capital LLC Decreases Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Savant Capital LLC lowered its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 0.3% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 43,552 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 136 shares during the period. Savant Capital LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $10,697,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Brookstone Capital Management increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 14.9% in the 3rd quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 15,498 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $3,260,000 after acquiring an additional 2,007 shares during the last quarter. Vicus Capital boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 141.4% in the 3rd quarter. Vicus Capital now owns 2,672 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $544,000 after purchasing an additional 1,565 shares during the period. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 48.6% in the 3rd quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC now owns 309 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $63,000 after purchasing an additional 101 shares during the period. Kingswood Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific in the 3rd quarter worth about $296,000. Finally, Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 10.5% in the 3rd quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 63,947 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $13,022,000 after purchasing an additional 6,071 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of Union Pacific stock opened at $235.75 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.76. Union Pacific Co. has a one year low of $190.71 and a one year high of $258.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $143.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 1.07. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $243.95 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $235.77.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.50 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 44.34% and a net margin of 26.52%. The firm had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.97 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.67 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was down .4% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.17 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 29th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 29th were paid a $1.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 28th. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.21%. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is currently 49.62%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In other news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,750 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $937,500.00. Following the transaction, the president now owns 56,682 shares in the company, valued at $14,170,500. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 0.26% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UNP has been the subject of several analyst reports. Evercore ISI raised their target price on Union Pacific from $271.00 to $273.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, April 26th. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Susquehanna lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, April 26th. Raymond James reiterated a “strong-buy” rating and set a $280.00 price target (up previously from $275.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 26th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded Union Pacific from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $280.00 price target for the company in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $258.78.

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.