North Star Asset Management Inc. Sells 1,976 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Key Points

• North Star Asset Management Inc. reduced its holding in Union Pacific Corporation by 5.3% in Q1, owning 35,580 shares valued at approximately $8.4 million after selling 1,976 shares.
• Union Pacific reported a quarterly earnings per share of $3.03, surpassing analysts' expectations, with revenue increasing by 2.4% year-over-year.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend increase to $1.38 per share, boosting its annualized dividend to $5.52, reflecting a 2.47% yield.

North Star Asset Management Inc. reduced its stake in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 5.3% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 35,580 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 1,976 shares during the quarter. North Star Asset Management Inc.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $8,405,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Allred Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Allred Capital Management LLC now owns 8,349 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,904,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the period. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL increased 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 valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the period. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.6% in the 4th quarter. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC now owns 2,922 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $666,000 after buying an additional 47 shares during the period. First Financial Bank Trust Division increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Division now owns 2,803 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $662,000 after buying an additional 47 shares during the period. Finally, Stiles Financial Services Inc grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. Stiles Financial Services Inc now owns 2,963 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $700,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNP has been the topic of several analyst reports. Robert W. Baird initiated coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, July 1st. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $231.00 target price on the stock. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Argus raised shares of Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. 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 assigned a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $258.21.

Union Pacific Trading Down 1.2%

Shares of NYSE:UNP traded down $2.66 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $219.31. The stock had a trading volume of 4,637,305 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,972,172. The firm has a market cap of $130.06 billion, a PE ratio of 19.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 1.06. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $227.09 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $230.93. 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.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced 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 for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.43% and a return on equity of 41.73%. Union Pacific's revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.74 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal 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 given 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 positive change from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is 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.