Sapient Capital LLC Trims Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Sapient Capital LLC reduced its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 1.8% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 111,990 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 2,057 shares during the period. Sapient Capital LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $26,457,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in UNP. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 1.2% in the first quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC now owns 4,172 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $986,000 after buying an additional 51 shares during the period. Simon Quick Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 32.0% during the 1st quarter. Simon Quick Advisors LLC now owns 5,050 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,193,000 after acquiring an additional 1,224 shares during the period. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 11.9% during the first quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 1,952 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $461,000 after acquiring an additional 207 shares in the last quarter. Baker Ellis Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 1.0% in the first quarter. Baker Ellis Asset Management LLC now owns 10,988 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,596,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 2.0% during the first quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 11,553 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,729,000 after purchasing an additional 225 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently commented on the company. Raymond James reaffirmed a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Citigroup raised Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $260.00 to $244.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, March 7th. They set a "buy" rating and a $295.00 price target for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $257.74.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Union Pacific stock traded down $2.42 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $223.07. The company's stock had a trading volume of 889,976 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,682,610. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $220.59 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $231.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.77. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $258.07. The company has a market capitalization of $133.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.11, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.73 by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.11 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. The business's revenue for the quarter was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.69 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be issued a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.40%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 48.29%.

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.