Sentry Investment Management LLC Cuts Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Sentry Investment Management LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 7.5% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 4,274 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 347 shares during the quarter. Sentry Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $975,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Howard Capital Management Group LLC boosted its position in Union Pacific by 16.4% during the 3rd quarter. Howard Capital Management Group LLC now owns 2,860 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $705,000 after purchasing an additional 403 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 15.3% during the third quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 42,514 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $10,383,000 after purchasing an additional 5,646 shares in the last quarter. Arkadios Wealth Advisors boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 51.7% in the third quarter. Arkadios Wealth Advisors now owns 3,636 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $896,000 after buying an additional 1,239 shares during the period. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 4.3% in the third quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 1,258 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $310,000 after buying an additional 52 shares in the last quarter. Finally, J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 8.8% during the 3rd quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 13,694 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $3,375,000 after buying an additional 1,103 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $1,875,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This represents a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total transaction 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 approximately $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on UNP shares. Raymond James restated a “strong-buy” rating and issued a $285.00 price target (up previously from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, January 24th. Guggenheim upped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Benchmark upped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Citigroup raised their target price on Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $261.40.

Union Pacific Stock Down 1.3 %

Shares of NYSE:UNP opened at $242.39 on Tuesday. The company’s fifty day moving average is $237.87 and its two-hundred day moving average is $240.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.77. 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 $146.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06.

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, topping the consensus estimate 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 quarter last year, the business earned $2.71 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.21%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 48.33%.

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.