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

HighTower Advisors LLC reduced its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 3.9% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 527,826 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 21,493 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $124,769,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Howard Hughes Medical Institute bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Total Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. bought a new position in Union Pacific during the second quarter valued at $31,000. Access Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the second quarter worth $32,000. Finally, Sagard Holdings Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at $33,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE:UNP opened at $260.55 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $154.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.77, a PEG ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 0.98. 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 business’s 50-day moving average price is $236.44 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $228.65. Union Pacific Corporation has a twelve month low of $204.66 and a twelve month high of $265.37.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.92 by ($0.06). The business had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.15 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.89% and a net margin of 29.12%.The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.91 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict 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. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be given a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.12%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have recently weighed in on UNP. Barclays reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $285.00 price target (up previously from $270.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. BMO Capital Markets set a $255.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Citigroup restated a “buy” rating and set a $270.00 price target (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed a “strong-buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised shares of Union Pacific from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price 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.