Sather Financial Group Inc Reduces Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Sather Financial Group Inc trimmed its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 0.4% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 92,116 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 372 shares during the period. Union Pacific makes up about 1.3% of Sather Financial Group Inc’s holdings, making the stock its 24th largest holding. Sather Financial Group Inc’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $21,006,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1,306.3% during the third quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 450 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $111,000 after acquiring an additional 418 shares during the period. Fiduciary Alliance LLC boosted its position in Union Pacific by 32.6% during the 3rd quarter. Fiduciary Alliance LLC now owns 1,611 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $397,000 after purchasing an additional 396 shares during the period. CX Institutional grew its position in Union Pacific by 165.4% in the third quarter. CX Institutional now owns 39,995 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $9,858,000 after acquiring an additional 24,927 shares in the last quarter. Creative Planning increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 6.7% during the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 258,290 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $62,439,000 after acquiring an additional 16,272 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Boomfish Wealth Group LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 2.2% in the 3rd quarter. Boomfish Wealth Group LLC now owns 6,218 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,533,000 after purchasing an additional 135 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Trading Up 1.4 %

NYSE:UNP opened at $247.81 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $235.21 and a 200 day moving average of $240.25. The stock has a market capitalization of $150.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.35, a PEG ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $218.55 and a 52 week high of $258.66.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.71 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 12.01 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.16%. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on UNP shares. Guggenheim lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Raymond James reissued a “strong-buy” rating and set a $285.00 target price (up previously from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, January 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $263.00 to $252.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $261.40.

Insider Activity

In other news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 completion of the transaction, the president now owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at $16,240,000. This trade represents a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, January 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total value of $1,636,740.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % 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.

About Union Pacific

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.