Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) Shares Sold by Putney Financial Group LLC

Putney Financial Group LLC lowered its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 20.3% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,754 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 1,468 shares during the period. Union Pacific accounts for 1.1% of Putney Financial Group LLC's holdings, making the stock its 15th biggest position. Putney Financial Group LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,359,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in UNP. Allred Capital Management LLC increased its position 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 acquiring an additional 40 shares during the period. Palogic Value Management L.P. grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Palogic Value Management L.P. now owns 2,823 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $644,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. Mystic Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 2.0% in the fourth quarter. Mystic Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,309 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $527,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the period. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 38.8% during the fourth quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ironwood Investment Counsel LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.3% during the fourth quarter. Ironwood Investment Counsel LLC now owns 3,458 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $789,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP stock traded up $0.34 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $222.35. The stock had a trading volume of 4,274,305 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,690,554. The company has a market cap of $132.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a current ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $258.07. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $221.26 and a 200 day simple moving average of $230.91.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.73 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.11 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.76% and a return on equity of 40.80%. The business's revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.69 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.41%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.29%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UNP has been the topic of several recent research reports. Citigroup raised shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $260.00 to $244.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Susquehanna reduced their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 27th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus cut their target price on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $257.74.

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.