CCLA Investment Management Lowers Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Key Points

• CCLA Investment Management reduced its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation by 4.7% during the first quarter, owning approximately 382,346 shares worth about $90.3 million after selling 18,996 shares.
• Union Pacific reported a quarterly earnings per share (EPS) of $3.03, exceeding consensus estimates of $2.84, with revenues of $6.15 billion for the quarter, up 2.4% year-over-year.
• The company declared an increased quarterly dividend of $1.38, representing an annual dividend yield of 2.5%, set to be paid on September 30th to shareholders of record.

CCLA Investment Management cut its stake in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 4.7% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 382,346 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 18,996 shares during the quarter. CCLA Investment Management owned approximately 0.06% of Union Pacific worth $90,317,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Capital Research Global Investors increased its stake in Union Pacific by 14.3% in the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,395,364 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,370,559,000 after purchasing an additional 1,298,178 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp raised its position in Union Pacific by 15.2% during the fourth quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 6,962,650 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,587,763,000 after acquiring an additional 920,414 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 1.6% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 6,594,882 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,503,899,000 after buying an additional 105,111 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 4.6% during the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 6,439,861 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,468,546,000 after buying an additional 285,401 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 35.2% in the fourth quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 4,968,658 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,133,053,000 after acquiring an additional 1,294,643 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms recently weighed in on UNP. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. Bank of America boosted their price objective on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Robert W. Baird initiated coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, July 1st. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $231.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Susquehanna lowered their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $257.00 and set a "positive" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $258.21.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP stock traded down $2.43 on Thursday, hitting $223.04. The company's stock had a trading volume of 743,046 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,314,909. Union Pacific Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $204.66 and a fifty-two week high of $258.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.65. The stock's 50 day moving average is $227.07 and its 200-day moving average is $230.66. The company has a market capitalization of $132.27 billion, a PE ratio of 19.36, a PEG ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results 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 company had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.09 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.74 EPS. Union Pacific's quarterly revenue was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be given 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 of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.5%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is currently 46.57%.

Union Pacific Profile

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.