Union Pacific Corporation $UNP Stock Position Reduced by Amundi

Key Points

• Amundi has reduced its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 11.6%, selling 465,020 shares, leaving it with approximately 3.5 million shares valued at $790 million.
• Several large investors have made significant changes, with Highline Wealth Partners increasing its holdings by 103.5% during the same period, indicating active interest in the stock.
• The company recently declared a quarterly dividend of $1.38 per share, reflecting an increase from the previous $1.34 and a dividend yield of 2.5%.

Amundi cut its position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 11.6% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 3,527,346 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 465,020 shares during the quarter. Amundi owned about 0.59% of Union Pacific worth $790,022,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Highline Wealth Partners LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 103.5% during the first quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 116 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the first quarter worth about $32,000. WPG Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the first quarter worth about $33,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 50.5% in the first quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 167 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 56 shares in the last quarter. Finally, IMA Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the first quarter valued at about $43,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Stock Down 1.2%

NYSE UNP traded down $2.72 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $220.34. 4,001,761 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,119,977. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1-year low of $204.66 and a 1-year high of $256.84. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $226.40 and a 200-day simple moving average of $227.09. The company has a current ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86. The company has a market cap of $130.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.14, a P/E/G ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.03.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.84 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.73% and a net margin of 28.43%.The firm had revenue of $6.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.09 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.74 EPS. Union Pacific's quarterly revenue was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be paid a dividend of $1.38 per share. This is a boost from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.5%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 47.96%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UNP has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Susquehanna lowered their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $257.00 and set a "positive" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Raymond James Financial reiterated a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Baird R W upgraded Union Pacific to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. UBS Group increased their target price on Union Pacific from $238.00 to $240.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $263.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Monday, June 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $258.21.

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.