Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) is Stevens Capital Partners' 7th Largest Position

Stevens Capital Partners lowered its stake in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 35.7% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 28,454 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 15,825 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific accounts for 3.2% of Stevens Capital Partners' holdings, making the stock its 7th biggest holding. Stevens Capital Partners' holdings in Union Pacific were worth $6,722,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 12.6% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,430,581 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $3,282,305,000 after purchasing an additional 1,616,895 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors increased its position in Union Pacific by 14.3% during the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,395,364 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,370,559,000 after buying an additional 1,298,178 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at about $1,927,377,000. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its position in Union Pacific by 5.0% during the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 7,686,387 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,752,804,000 after buying an additional 363,937 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp increased its position in Union Pacific by 15.2% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 6,962,650 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,587,763,000 after buying an additional 920,414 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Down 1.7%

NYSE:UNP traded down $3.90 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $227.28. The company had a trading volume of 5,166,432 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,744,980. The firm has a market capitalization of $135.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.48, a PEG ratio of 2.32 and a beta of 1.05. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $227.14 and its 200-day simple moving average is $231.18. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $258.07. 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 (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results 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 business had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.11 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.80% and a net margin of 27.76%. The firm's quarterly revenue was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $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 fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced 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. 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 2.43%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is presently 48.29%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Argus raised Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $271.00 target price (up from $267.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. Baird R W raised Union Pacific to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 1st. Robert W. Baird began coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, July 1st. They set a "neutral" rating and a $231.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Susquehanna raised Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "positive" rating and raised their target price for the stock from $245.00 to $260.00 in a report on Tuesday, June 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $257.13.

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.