Signaturefd LLC Lowers Stake in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• Signaturefd LLC has reduced its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 9.4%, selling 1,257 shares during the 2nd quarter, leaving it with a holding valued at $2,786,000.
• Union Pacific recently declared an increased quarterly dividend of $1.38, up from $1.34, representing a 2.3% yield based on an annualized dividend of $5.52.
• Analysts maintain a Moderate Buy consensus rating for Union Pacific, with the current price target averaging $260.00.

Signaturefd LLC reduced its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 9.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 12,110 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 1,257 shares during the quarter. Signaturefd LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $2,786,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of UNP. Nuveen LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the first quarter worth approximately $988,822,000. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 27,502.8% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,491,151 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $588,510,000 after acquiring an additional 2,482,126 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 29.8% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 3,699,109 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $873,878,000 after acquiring an additional 850,025 shares in the last quarter. Auto Owners Insurance Co grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 61,054.6% in the first quarter. Auto Owners Insurance Co now owns 625,000 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $147,650,000 after buying an additional 623,978 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Menora Mivtachim Holdings LTD. acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the 1st quarter valued at $115,096,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP stock opened at $235.14 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $139.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.45 and a beta of 1.03. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $256.84. The company's 50 day moving average price is $222.73 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $224.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.65.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $6.15 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.73% and a net margin of 28.43%.The business's quarterly revenue was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.74 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be paid a $1.38 dividend. This is an increase from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 47.96%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on UNP. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday, July 15th. Loop Capital upgraded Union Pacific from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating and upped their price objective for the company from $214.00 to $227.00 in a research report on Tuesday, September 16th. Susquehanna restated a "positive" rating and issued a $272.00 target price (up previously from $257.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on Union Pacific from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 7th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $263.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Monday, June 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $260.00.

About Union Pacific

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.

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