Colonial Trust Advisors Has $15.15 Million Holdings in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Colonial Trust Advisors lessened its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 3.3% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 65,502 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 2,237 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific accounts for about 1.1% of Colonial Trust Advisors’ holdings, making the stock its 21st biggest holding. Colonial Trust Advisors’ holdings in Union Pacific were worth $15,152,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Rachor Investment Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Tucker Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. High Point Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Caitlin John LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 3rd quarter valued at about $27,000. Finally, Saranac Partners Ltd bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 3rd quarter valued at about $27,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.6%

Union Pacific stock opened at $268.50 on Friday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $261.64 and its 200 day simple moving average is $248.52. Union Pacific Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $210.84 and a fifty-two week high of $279.70. The firm has a market capitalization of $159.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.12, a PEG ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53, a current ratio of 0.92 and a quick ratio of 0.73.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.93 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.86 by $0.07. Union Pacific had a net margin of 29.20% and a return on equity of 39.58%. The business had revenue of $6.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.12 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.70 EPS. Union Pacific’s quarterly revenue was up 3.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.53 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, May 29th will be paid a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 29th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 45.47%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 2,000 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $274.70, for a total transaction of $549,400.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 114,642 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $31,492,157.40. This trade represents a 1.71% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Kenyatta G. Rocker sold 27,387 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $271.76, for a total transaction of $7,442,691.12. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 61,102 shares in the company, valued at $16,605,079.52. The trade was a 30.95% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 34,377 shares of company stock valued at $9,251,221 in the last 90 days. 0.22% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on UNP shares. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed a “market perform” rating and issued a $285.00 target price (up from $278.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, April 24th. Citigroup reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $307.00 target price (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, April 24th. Raymond James Financial set a $310.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, April 24th. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $300.00 target price (up from $260.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, April 24th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $267.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, April 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $282.21.

Union Pacific Company 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.