HighTower Advisors LLC Sells 21,493 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

HighTower Advisors LLC decreased its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 3.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 527,826 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 21,493 shares during the quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC owned approximately 0.09% of Union Pacific worth $124,769,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Acadian Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 40.4% in the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 2,312 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $546,000 after acquiring an additional 665 shares during the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 4.9% in the 2nd quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 148,389 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $34,269,000 after purchasing an additional 6,937 shares during the last quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 4.3% during the second quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 15,185 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $3,494,000 after buying an additional 621 shares during the period. Foster & Motley Inc. raised its stake in Union Pacific by 0.7% during the second quarter. Foster & Motley Inc. now owns 12,713 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,925,000 after buying an additional 87 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Koshinski Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in Union Pacific by 6.7% during the second quarter. Koshinski Asset Management Inc. now owns 5,871 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,351,000 after buying an additional 371 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNP opened at $260.55 on Monday. Union Pacific Corporation has a twelve month low of $204.66 and a twelve month high of $265.37. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $236.44 and its 200-day moving average is $228.65. The company has a quick ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64. The firm has a market capitalization of $154.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.77, a PEG ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 0.98.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.92 by ($0.06). Union Pacific had a net margin of 29.12% and a return on equity of 40.89%. The business had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.15 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.91 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be issued a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is currently 46.12%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $265.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Barclays reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $285.00 target price (up previously from $270.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $280.00 price target on Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday, December 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “neutral” rating and set a $267.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets set a $255.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $258.32.

Union Pacific Profile

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services.

Union Pacific’s core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western two‑thirds of the United States.