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

Capital Wealth Planning LLC lowered its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 37.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 15,361 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 9,316 shares during the quarter. Capital Wealth Planning LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $3,503,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Nixon Peabody Trust Co. grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 62.3% during the 4th quarter. Nixon Peabody Trust Co. now owns 1,589 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $362,000 after buying an additional 610 shares in the last quarter. Jacobi Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. Jacobi Capital Management LLC now owns 9,422 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,149,000 after buying an additional 88 shares in the last quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 4.6% during the 4th quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 27,971 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $6,379,000 after buying an additional 1,223 shares in the last quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.7% during the 4th quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC now owns 9,000 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,052,000 after buying an additional 236 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Providence First Trust Co purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at about $106,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the company. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Guggenheim lifted their target price on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Citigroup lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Loop Capital downgraded Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating and dropped their price target for the company from $265.00 to $200.00 in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. One investment 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 company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $261.40.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total transaction of $1,636,740.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,632,388. The trade was a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $1,875,000.00. Following the transaction, 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. Insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE:UNP opened at $246.94 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62. The business has a 50 day moving average of $239.46 and a 200 day moving average of $240.96. The company has a market capitalization of $149.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.27, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a 1-year low of $218.55 and a 1-year high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.71 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.17%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 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.