Union Pacific Corporation $UNP Shares Sold by Capital Investment Counsel LLC

Key Points

• Capital Investment Counsel LLC has reduced its position in Union Pacific Corporation by 4.8%, now holding 24,318 shares valued at approximately $5.75 million.
• Union Pacific recently announced a quarterly dividend increase to $1.38 per share, reflecting a yield of 2.5%, with the dividend payout ratio at 47.96%.
• The company reported earnings of $3.03 per share, exceeding analyst expectations, and anticipates 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Capital Investment Counsel LLC decreased its position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 4.8% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 24,318 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 1,215 shares during the quarter. Capital Investment Counsel LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $5,745,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Fiduciary Trust Co raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.8% in the fourth quarter. Fiduciary Trust Co now owns 102,213 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $23,309,000 after acquiring an additional 2,807 shares in the last quarter. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $781,000. LGT Group Foundation grew its position in Union Pacific by 9.7% in the 1st quarter. LGT Group Foundation now owns 5,398 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,275,000 after buying an additional 477 shares during the last quarter. Nuveen LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the 1st quarter valued at $988,822,000. Finally, SlateStone Wealth LLC grew its position in Union Pacific by 6.2% in the 1st quarter. SlateStone Wealth LLC now owns 13,264 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $3,133,000 after buying an additional 772 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. Citigroup downgraded Union Pacific from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating and reduced their target price for the company from $270.00 to $250.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $263.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Monday, June 2nd. Raymond James Financial reissued a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Baird R W raised shares of Union Pacific to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. Finally, Susquehanna dropped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $257.00 and set a "positive" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. One research 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 given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $258.21.

Union Pacific Stock Down 1.2%

Shares of Union Pacific stock traded down $2.72 on Friday, hitting $220.34. 4,001,761 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,119,977. The firm's 50-day moving average is $226.40 and its 200 day moving average is $227.09. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $256.84. The stock has a market cap of $130.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.14, a PEG ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.09 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.74 earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

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

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.