Levin Capital Strategies L.P. Sells 14,862 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Key Points

• Levin Capital Strategies L.P. sold 14,862 shares of Union Pacific, reducing its holdings by 25.2% in the first quarter, leaving it with 44,094 shares valued at approximately $10.4 million.
• Union Pacific announced a quarterly dividend increase to $1.38 per share, with a yield of 2.5%, up from its previous dividend of $1.34.
• Analysts have shown optimism regarding Union Pacific's stock, with multiple firms raising their target prices and reaffirming buy ratings, reflecting a general positive outlook on the company.

Levin Capital Strategies L.P. lessened its stake in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 25.2% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 44,094 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 14,862 shares during the period. Levin Capital Strategies L.P.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $10,417,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of UNP. Highline Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in Union Pacific by 103.5% during the 1st quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 116 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 59 shares during the period. EnRich Financial Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth $31,000. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 1st quarter valued at $32,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 50.5% during the 1st quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 167 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 56 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 38.8% in the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have commented on UNP shares. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Union Pacific from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. UBS Group lifted their target price on Union Pacific from $238.00 to $240.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Evercore ISI dropped their price target on Union Pacific from $244.00 to $238.00 and set an "in-line" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Sanford C. Bernstein increased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $271.00 to $286.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, July 21st. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $258.21.

Union Pacific Trading Down 1.3%

Shares of Union Pacific stock traded down $2.95 on Thursday, hitting $222.51. 3,113,711 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,311,982. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $258.07. The company has a market cap of $131.96 billion, a PE ratio of 19.33, a PEG ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 1.05. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $227.08 and its 200-day moving average price is $230.58. 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 (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.19. The business had revenue of $6.15 billion during 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 business's revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.74 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be given a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. This is a boost from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is currently 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.