Lansforsakringar Fondforvaltning AB publ Decreases Position in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• Lansforsakringar Fondforvaltning AB publ has reduced its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 3.5%, holding 194,274 shares worth approximately $45.9 million after selling 7,039 shares.
• Union Pacific recently increased its quarterly dividend to $1.38 per share from the previous $1.34, resulting in an annualized dividend of $5.52 and a dividend yield of 2.5%.
• Analysts have mixed outlooks on Union Pacific, with target prices ranging from $215 to $276, and a consensus average rating of "Moderate Buy".

Lansforsakringar Fondforvaltning AB publ trimmed its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 3.5% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 194,274 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 7,039 shares during the period. Lansforsakringar Fondforvaltning AB publ's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $45,895,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Northern Trust Corp increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.0% in the first quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 7,105,382 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,678,575,000 after purchasing an additional 142,732 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 5.4% in the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 6,949,345 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,641,715,000 after purchasing an additional 354,463 shares during the period. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC increased its holdings in 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 purchasing an additional 1,294,643 shares during the period. Nuveen Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.1% in the fourth quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 4,372,636 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $997,136,000 after purchasing an additional 89,199 shares during the period. Finally, Nuveen LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the first quarter valued at $988,822,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.5%

Shares of UNP traded up $1.21 on Monday, reaching $223.56. The company's stock had a trading volume of 5,012,781 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,091,132. The company has a current ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86. Union Pacific Corporation has a twelve month low of $204.66 and a twelve month high of $258.07. The stock has a market capitalization of $132.58 billion, a PE ratio of 19.42, a PEG ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.03. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $227.03 and a 200-day moving average of $227.74.

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, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.84 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.43% and a return on equity of 41.73%. The company had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.09 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.74 EPS. The firm's revenue was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS 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 issued a $1.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.5%. This is a boost from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 47.96%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have commented on UNP shares. Evercore ISI cut their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $244.00 to $238.00 and set an "in-line" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 25th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, July 25th. Bank of America upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $257.00 to $276.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Finally, Barclays cut shares of Union Pacific from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $258.21.

About Union Pacific

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.