Horizon Investments LLC Sells 8,532 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• Horizon Investments LLC trimmed its Union Pacific stake by 16.9%, selling 8,532 shares and leaving 41,818 shares valued at about $9.673 million per its latest 13F filing.
• Union Pacific beat Q1 estimates (EPS $2.93 vs. $2.86; revenue $6.22B), spurred analyst price-target raises and a consensus "Moderate Buy" target of $279.55, with the stock trading near $266 and yielding roughly 2.1%.
• Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern's refiled merger application projects about $3.5 billion of annual shipper savings but faces significant regulatory and stakeholder opposition, increasing the risk of delays or concessions.

Horizon Investments LLC decreased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 16.9% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 41,818 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 8,532 shares during the period. Horizon Investments LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $9,673,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.1% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 59,329,262 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $13,724,045,000 after purchasing an additional 659,378 shares in the last quarter. Capital World Investors increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 193.3% during the third quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 10,481,043 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,477,404,000 after purchasing an additional 6,908,016 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 72.7% during the third quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 9,177,002 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,169,168,000 after purchasing an additional 3,861,636 shares in the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 95.0% during the third quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 8,713,196 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,059,538,000 after purchasing an additional 4,244,226 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 18.9% during the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 7,164,334 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,693,434,000 after purchasing an additional 1,139,926 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 2,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $274.70, for a total value of $549,400.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 114,642 shares in the company, valued at approximately $31,492,157.40. This trade represents a 1.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Kenyatta G. Rocker sold 27,387 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $271.76, for a total transaction of $7,442,691.12. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 61,102 shares in the company, valued at $16,605,079.52. This represents a 30.95% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 31,386 shares of company stock worth $8,461,716. 0.22% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Union Pacific Trading Down 1.1%

NYSE:UNP opened at $266.40 on Friday. The company's 50 day moving average price is $252.18 and its 200-day moving average price is $239.42. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52 week low of $210.84 and a 52 week high of $274.79. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53. The stock has a market cap of $158.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.94, a PEG ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 0.99.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.93 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.86 by $0.07. Union Pacific had a net margin of 29.20% and a return on equity of 39.58%. The firm had revenue of $6.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.12 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.70 earnings per share. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 27th were issued a $1.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 27th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 45.47%.

Key Headlines Impacting Union Pacific

Here are the key news stories impacting Union Pacific this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Union Pacific reported a Q1 earnings beat, stronger margins and reaffirmed its outlook — a fundamental positive that underpins analyst upgrades and higher price targets. UPS or UNP: Which Transportation Stock Holds an Edge Post Q1 Earnings?
• Positive Sentiment: UNP and Norfolk Southern refiled an amended merger application with the Surface Transportation Board that includes full traffic data from all Class I rails and projects about $3.5 billion in annual shipper savings — a scenario investors see as long-term revenue/cost synergy if approved. Creating America's First Transcontinental Railroad...
• Neutral Sentiment: The refiled application frames the merged carrier as holding roughly a 39% market share and outlines conditions under which Union Pacific could walk away — information that clarifies deal economics but leaves regulatory risk open. Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern Refile Rail-Merger Application
• Negative Sentiment: Rival Canadian National (CNI) formally criticized the amended application as inadequate to address competitive harms and is actively engaging the STB — increasing the probability of prolonged review, mandated remedies, or outright rejection. CN Says Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern Merger Fails To Address Competitive Harms
• Negative Sentiment: Rivals, unions and a newly formed anti-merger coalition are mobilizing to block the deal, signaling political and stakeholder resistance that could delay approval or force costly concessions. Rails rivals, unions unite to block the Norfolk Southern-Union Pacific merger
• Negative Sentiment: Union Pacific CFO disclosed an insider sale of about $549,400 in UNP stock — a near-term negative signal that some investors interpret as reduced insider conviction (though the size is modest relative to market cap). Insider Selling: Union Pacific NYSE: UNP CFO Sells $549,400.00 in Stock

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have recently commented on UNP. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $267.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, April 24th. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $300.00 price target (up from $260.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. Benchmark increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $300.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, April 24th. Robert W. Baird set a $311.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, March 6th. Finally, UBS Group reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $274.00 price target (up from $253.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $279.55.

Union Pacific Company Profile

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.

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