Sapient Capital LLC Lowers Stake in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• Sapient Capital LLC reduced its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 3.1%, selling 3,435 shares during the second quarter, resulting in holdings valued at approximately $24.98 million.
• Analysts have a consensus target price of $259.38 for Union Pacific, with one strong buy rating, fifteen buy ratings, and ten hold ratings among equity researchers.
• Union Pacific has announced a quarterly dividend increase from $1.34 to $1.38 per share, representing a dividend yield of 2.6% and a payout ratio of 47.96%.

Sapient Capital LLC cut its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 3.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 108,555 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 3,435 shares during the quarter. Sapient Capital LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $24,976,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of UNP. Titleist Asset Management LLC raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Titleist Asset Management LLC now owns 4,004 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $946,000 after buying an additional 44 shares in the last quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Division raised its position 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 worth $662,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares during the period. Stiles Financial Services Inc raised its position in 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 period. Avalon Trust Co raised its position in Union Pacific by 5.1% in the 1st quarter. Avalon Trust Co now owns 1,004 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $237,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the period. Finally, Mather Group LLC. raised its position in Union Pacific by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 3,041 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $718,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Trading Up 1.5%

Shares of UNP stock traded up $3.26 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $220.43. The company had a trading volume of 4,349,310 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,350,542. The company's fifty day moving average is $222.94 and its 200 day moving average is $225.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.53. Union Pacific Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $204.66 and a fifty-two week high of $256.84. The stock has a market capitalization of $130.72 billion, a PE ratio of 19.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 1.03.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.43% and a return on equity of 41.73%. The firm had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.09 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.74 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share 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. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be issued a $1.38 dividend. 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 dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 47.96%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have commented on UNP. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a "neutral" rating and issued a $263.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Monday, June 2nd. Sanford C. Bernstein raised their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $271.00 to $286.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, July 21st. Robert W. Baird initiated coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $231.00 target price for the company. Argus downgraded shares of Union Pacific from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 12th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $259.38.

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.