Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp Cuts Holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Key Points

• Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp reduced its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 38.7%, selling 408,192 shares, leaving it with 647,870 shares valued at approximately $153 million.
• Union Pacific recently increased its quarterly dividend from $1.34 to $1.38 per share, which translates to an annualized dividend yield of 2.5%.
• Despite the stake cut by Mitsubishi UFJ, other investors like Capital Research Global Investors and UBS AM have increased their positions in Union Pacific, indicating a strong institutional interest in the stock.

Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp lessened its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 38.7% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 647,870 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 408,192 shares during the period. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp owned 0.11% of Union Pacific worth $153,053,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. UNIVEST FINANCIAL Corp boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 44.0% in the first quarter. UNIVEST FINANCIAL Corp now owns 14,339 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $3,387,000 after buying an additional 4,380 shares in the last quarter. Baker Avenue Asset Management LP grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 34.6% during the first quarter. Baker Avenue Asset Management LP now owns 1,972 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $466,000 after purchasing an additional 507 shares during the last quarter. Heritage Wealth Advisors raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.6% during the 1st quarter. Heritage Wealth Advisors now owns 153,782 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $36,329,000 after purchasing an additional 3,946 shares during the last quarter. Mengis Capital Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 3.5% during the first quarter. Mengis Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,950 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $697,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the period. Finally, EagleClaw Capital Managment LLC boosted its position in Union Pacific by 2.5% during the first quarter. EagleClaw Capital Managment LLC now owns 32,903 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $7,773,000 after acquiring an additional 802 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Bank of America raised 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. UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $238.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. Barclays lowered shares of Union Pacific from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Stephens reduced their price objective 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. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Union Pacific from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, July 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $258.21.

Union Pacific Trading Up 1.2%

Union Pacific stock traded up $2.63 during trading on Monday, hitting $222.03. The company had a trading volume of 4,181,048 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,204,046. The stock has a market cap of $131.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 1.05. 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 1-year low of $204.66 and a 1-year high of $258.07. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $227.04 and its 200-day simple moving average is $230.83.

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

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 29th will be given a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.5%. This is an increase from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. Union Pacific's payout ratio is presently 46.57%.

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.