JT Stratford LLC Decreases Stock Position in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• JT Stratford LLC has significantly reduced its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 61.8%, now owning 907 shares valued at $214,000 after selling 1,469 shares.
• Union Pacific recently declared an increase in its quarterly dividend to $1.38, boosting the annual dividend yield to 2.4%.
• Analysts have mixed opinions on Union Pacific, with ratings ranging from Strong Buy to one Sell, and an average price target set at $258.21.

JT Stratford LLC cut its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 61.8% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 907 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 1,469 shares during the period. JT Stratford LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $214,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of UNP. Highline Wealth Partners LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 103.5% in the first quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 116 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares during the period. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the first quarter valued at $32,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 50.5% in the first quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 167 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares during the period. IMA Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the 1st quarter worth about $43,000. Finally, Y.D. More Investments Ltd purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the 1st quarter worth about $55,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have issued reports on UNP. Argus downgraded Union Pacific from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 12th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. Susquehanna decreased their price target on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $257.00 and set a "positive" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Stephens decreased their price target on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 28th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $263.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Monday, June 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $258.21.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.9%

Union Pacific stock opened at $225.6890 on Thursday. 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 company has a market capitalization of $133.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.61, a PEG ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.05. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $226.91 and a 200-day simple moving average of $229.03.

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 for the quarter, beating 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 business had revenue of $6.15 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.74 EPS. The business'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 year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 29th will be given a $1.38 dividend. This is a boost from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.4%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is presently 46.57%.

Union Pacific Company 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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