Matrix Trust Co Lowers Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Matrix Trust Co trimmed its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 4.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 7,248 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 305 shares during the quarter. Matrix Trust Co’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,786,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Ethic Inc. raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 26.8% in the fourth quarter. Ethic Inc. now owns 25,474 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $6,257,000 after acquiring an additional 5,379 shares during the period. Vivaldi Capital Management LP raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 23.2% during the 4th quarter. Vivaldi Capital Management LP now owns 2,017 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $495,000 after purchasing an additional 380 shares during the last quarter. Orleans Capital Management Corp LA raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 3.6% during the 4th quarter. Orleans Capital Management Corp LA now owns 14,793 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $3,633,000 after purchasing an additional 511 shares during the last quarter. Pitcairn Co. raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 12.1% during the 4th quarter. Pitcairn Co. now owns 12,675 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $3,113,000 after purchasing an additional 1,367 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Midland Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth about $1,068,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Union Pacific stock traded up $0.46 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $238.14. 615,189 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,272,499. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $199.97 and a 12-month high of $258.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.89, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 1.05. The stock has a market cap of $145.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 1.05. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $245.74 and its 200 day simple moving average is $238.62.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.71 by $0.03. Union Pacific had a net margin of 26.90% and a return on equity of 42.62%. The company had revenue of $6.01 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.05 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.57 EPS. Union Pacific’s revenue for the quarter was up .7% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.1 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 30th were issued a $1.34 dividend. This is an increase from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 30th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.25%. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is presently 51.15%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $280.00 to $275.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, September 20th. Loop Capital downgraded shares of Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and cut their price objective for the company from $276.00 to $238.00 in a report on Monday, June 17th. Susquehanna increased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Bank of America lowered their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $273.00 to $270.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, September 24th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein lowered their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $277.00 to $272.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $259.50.

Insider Activity

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,552 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $246.59, for a total transaction of $875,887.68. Following the sale, the president now owns 64,945 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,014,787.55. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 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.