Skylands Capital LLC Reduces Stock Position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Skylands Capital LLC lowered its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 2.0% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 224,625 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 4,525 shares during the period. Union Pacific makes up about 7.7% of Skylands Capital LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its largest holding. Skylands Capital LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $53,065,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of UNP. Joel Isaacson & Co. LLC lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 5.6% during the first quarter. Joel Isaacson & Co. LLC now owns 11,874 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,805,000 after buying an additional 628 shares in the last quarter. Aljian Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.8% during the first quarter. Aljian Capital Management LLC now owns 2,883 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $681,000 after acquiring an additional 52 shares during the period. Convergence Financial LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 12.7% in the 1st quarter. Convergence Financial LLC now owns 8,669 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,048,000 after acquiring an additional 974 shares in the last quarter. Little House Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $1,021,000. Finally, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 1,400,236 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $330,792,000 after purchasing an additional 12,854 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Up 2.4%

Shares of NYSE:UNP traded up $5.53 on Tuesday, reaching $235.61. The company had a trading volume of 2,687,500 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,718,077. The stock has a market capitalization of $140.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.23, a P/E/G ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.05. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $222.77 and a 200 day moving average price of $230.68. Union Pacific Corporation has a twelve month low of $204.66 and a twelve month high of $258.07. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91.

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). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.80% and a net margin of 27.76%. The company had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.11 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.69 earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th were paid a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.27%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 48.29%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have issued reports on UNP shares. Stephens cut their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Robert W. Baird initiated coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday. They set a "neutral" rating and a $231.00 price target on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $263.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Monday, June 2nd. Redburn Atlantic upgraded Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group dropped their target price on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $256.91.

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.