Dodge & Cox Trims Stake in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Dodge & Cox cut its stake in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 272,881 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 2,560 shares during the period. Dodge & Cox’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $64,501,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of UNP. Invenio Wealth Partners LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 13.7% in the third quarter. Invenio Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,190 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $281,000 after buying an additional 143 shares in the last quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC now owns 116,820 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $27,613,000 after buying an additional 1,012 shares in the last quarter. Scharf Investments LLC grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 102.6% during the 3rd quarter. Scharf Investments LLC now owns 668,092 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $157,920,000 after acquiring an additional 338,280 shares during the period. Hutner Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 3.2% during the 3rd quarter. Hutner Capital Management Inc. now owns 12,326 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,913,000 after acquiring an additional 378 shares during the period. Finally, Baupost Group LLC MA purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $353,658,000. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.8%

NYSE UNP opened at $242.22 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $246.47 and a 200-day moving average price of $233.74. Union Pacific Corporation has a one year low of $204.66 and a one year high of $268.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a current ratio of 0.91. The company has a market capitalization of $143.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.24, a P/E/G ratio of 2.66 and a beta of 0.95.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.92 by ($0.06). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.89% and a net margin of 29.12%.The business had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.15 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.91 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down .6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be given a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 46.12%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have commented on UNP. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price 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. Citigroup reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $270.00 price objective (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Raymond James Financial restated a “strong-buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. Susquehanna reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Monday, January 19th. Finally, Robert W. Baird set a $311.00 price target on Union Pacific and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, March 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $263.77.

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.