Howland Capital Management LLC Sells 106,508 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Key Points

• Howland Capital Management LLC has significantly reduced its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation, selling 106,508 shares and now owning 9,918 shares worth $2,343,000.
• Union Pacific reported better than expected earnings with $3.03 EPS for the quarter, exceeding analysts' estimates of $2.84.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend increase to $1.38 per share, reflecting a positive change from its previous dividend, and a yield of 2.5%.

Howland Capital Management LLC decreased its position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 91.5% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 9,918 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 106,508 shares during the quarter. Howland Capital Management LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $2,343,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 27,502.8% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,491,151 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $588,510,000 after acquiring an additional 2,482,126 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 14.3% during the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,395,364 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $2,370,559,000 after acquiring an additional 1,298,178 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 35.2% during the 4th 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 worth $1,133,053,000 after acquiring an additional 1,294,643 shares during the last quarter. Castlekeep Investment Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth about $273,361,000. Finally, Northern Trust Corp grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 15.2% during the 4th 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. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNP opened at $222.16 on Friday. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $227.09 and its 200 day simple moving average is $230.93. 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 current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.53. The company has a market capitalization of $131.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.30, a P/E/G ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping 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 business had revenue of $6.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.09 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.74 EPS. Union Pacific's revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 29th will be paid a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. This is a positive change from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 46.57%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have commented on UNP shares. Redburn Atlantic raised shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. Robert W. Baird initiated coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, July 1st. They set a "neutral" rating and a $231.00 price objective on the stock. Stephens cut their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Finally, Citigroup downgraded shares of Union Pacific from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating and cut their target price for the company from $270.00 to $250.00 in a research report on Wednesday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $258.21.

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.

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