Vanguard Group Inc. Cuts Position in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Vanguard Group Inc. decreased its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 0.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 58,669,884 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 170,978 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. owned 0.10% of Union Pacific worth $13,867,800,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of UNP. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 9.8% during the 3rd quarter. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA now owns 52,849 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $12,492,000 after purchasing an additional 4,707 shares during the last quarter. Midwest Trust Co boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 2.8% during the third quarter. Midwest Trust Co now owns 281,036 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $66,428,000 after buying an additional 7,759 shares during the period. CX Institutional boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 39.8% during the third quarter. CX Institutional now owns 65,826 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $15,559,000 after buying an additional 18,742 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 15.1% during the third quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 135,188 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $31,955,000 after acquiring an additional 17,696 shares during the last quarter. Finally, AustralianSuper Pty Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $802,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UNP has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $280.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. Barclays reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $285.00 price objective (up previously from $270.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $265.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Susquehanna restated a “buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Monday, January 19th. Finally, TD Cowen decreased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $257.00 to $255.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $258.32.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.5%

NYSE UNP opened at $260.55 on Monday. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $265.37. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $236.44 and a two-hundred day moving average of $228.65. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $154.61 billion, a PE ratio of 21.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 0.98.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.92 by ($0.06). The firm 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%.Union Pacific’s revenue for the quarter was down .6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.91 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be issued a $1.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 46.12%.

About Union Pacific

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.