Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. Sells 2,433 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. decreased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 2.8%, now holding 84,301 shares worth approximately $19.4 million, following the sale of 2,433 shares in Q2.
• Union Pacific's stock saw a modest increase of 0.2% and reported impressive quarterly earnings of $3.03 per share, exceeding market expectations.
• The company has announced an increase in its quarterly dividend to $1.38 per share, reflecting a 2.5% yield, up from $1.34, representing a solid return for investors.

Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. decreased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 2.8% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 84,301 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 2,433 shares during the period. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $19,396,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Pines Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. Pines Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,520 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $595,000 after buying an additional 43 shares during the last quarter. Titleist Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. Titleist Asset Management LLC now owns 4,004 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $946,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares during the period. First Financial Bank Trust Division raised its stake in Union Pacific by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Division now owns 2,803 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $662,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares during the period. Stiles Financial Services Inc raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.6% during the first quarter. Stiles Financial Services Inc now owns 2,963 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $700,000 after buying an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Avalon Trust Co lifted its position in Union Pacific by 5.1% during the first quarter. Avalon Trust Co now owns 1,004 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $237,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Up 2.3%

NYSE UNP traded up $5.17 on Monday, reaching $225.78. The company had a trading volume of 8,135,975 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,561,980. The firm has a market capitalization of $133.89 billion, a PE ratio of 19.62, a P/E/G ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.53. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $222.51 and a 200-day moving average of $224.70. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1 year low of $204.66 and a 1 year high of $256.84.

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. The firm had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.09 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.73% and a net margin of 28.43%.The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.74 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced 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 of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.4%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 47.96%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on UNP. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective 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. Citigroup upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their target price for the company from $250.00 to $251.00 in a research note on Monday, September 15th. Evercore ISI reduced their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $244.00 to $238.00 and set an "in-line" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 25th. Baird R W raised shares of Union Pacific to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a "neutral" rating and set a $263.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Monday, June 2nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $259.38.

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.