MetLife Investment Management LLC Trims Position in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• MetLife Investment Management LLC has reduced its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 2.1%, owning 169,783 shares after selling 3,634 shares, with a current value of $40.11 million.
• Union Pacific has a dividend increase, announcing a quarterly dividend of $1.38 per share, up from $1.34, reflecting an annualized yield of 2.4%.
• Several brokerages have differing price targets for Union Pacific shares, with a consensus average target of $258.21, indicating a moderate buy rating by analysts.

MetLife Investment Management LLC decreased its stake in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 2.1% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 169,783 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 3,634 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $40,110,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Fiduciary Trust Co increased its position in Union Pacific by 2.8% during the fourth quarter. Fiduciary Trust Co now owns 102,213 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $23,309,000 after purchasing an additional 2,807 shares during the last quarter. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $781,000. LGT Group Foundation increased its position in Union Pacific by 9.7% during the first quarter. LGT Group Foundation now owns 5,398 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,275,000 after purchasing an additional 477 shares during the last quarter. Nuveen LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the first quarter worth approximately $988,822,000. Finally, SlateStone Wealth LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 6.2% during the first quarter. SlateStone Wealth LLC now owns 13,264 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $3,133,000 after purchasing an additional 772 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently commented on UNP. Stephens dropped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Sanford C. Bernstein upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $271.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, July 21st. Evercore ISI dropped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $244.00 to $238.00 and set an "in-line" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 25th. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $257.00 to $276.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Finally, Robert W. Baird initiated coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $231.00 price objective for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $258.21.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Union Pacific stock opened at $227.4770 on Friday. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $258.07. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $226.99 and a 200-day moving average of $228.69. The firm has a market capitalization of $134.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.76, a PEG ratio of 2.21 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.84 by $0.19. The business had revenue of $6.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.09 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.43% and a return on equity of 41.73%. The business's revenue was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.74 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 29th will be issued a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. 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 47.96%.

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.

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