American Trust Has $664,000 Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

American Trust lowered its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 5.0% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 2,693 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 141 shares during the quarter. American Trust’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $664,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 9.3% during the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 7,322,450 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,795,993,000 after purchasing an additional 625,492 shares during the period. Synovus Financial Corp lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 0.9% in the third quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 44,012 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $10,848,000 after buying an additional 399 shares during the last quarter. Tidal Investments LLC boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 4.0% during the 3rd quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 42,556 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $10,489,000 after acquiring an additional 1,653 shares during the period. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB boosted its position in Union Pacific by 124.1% during the third quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 52,963 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $13,054,000 after purchasing an additional 29,330 shares during the period. Finally, Arvest Bank Trust Division acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the third quarter valued at $16,680,000. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. BMO Capital Markets cut their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $280.00 to $275.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, September 20th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $267.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $262.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Susquehanna dropped their price target on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $255.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $259.80.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNP opened at $234.99 on Friday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $238.39 and its 200 day simple moving average is $238.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.63. Union Pacific Co. has a 1 year low of $218.55 and a 1 year high of $258.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $142.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.78 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.14 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.79% and a net margin of 27.33%. Union Pacific’s quarterly revenue was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.51 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 9th will be paid a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 9th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.28%. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is currently 49.22%.

Union Pacific 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.