TD Asset Management Inc Cuts Stock Position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Key Points

• TD Asset Management Inc reduced its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 4.3%, now holding a position valued at $297.77 million, with 1.26 million shares after selling 56,159 shares in the last quarter.
• Union Pacific recently reported an EPS of $3.03 for the last quarter, exceeding estimates of $2.84, and a revenue of $6.15 billion, a 2.4% year-over-year increase.
• The company has increased its quarterly dividend from $1.34 to $1.38 per share, representing an annual yield of 2.46% and a payout ratio of 48.29%.

TD Asset Management Inc lowered its position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 4.3% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,260,449 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 56,159 shares during the period. TD Asset Management Inc owned 0.21% of Union Pacific worth $297,768,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 12.6% in the fourth 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 lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 14.3% during the fourth quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,395,364 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $2,370,559,000 after acquiring an additional 1,298,178 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its position in Union Pacific by 5.0% in the fourth quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 7,686,387 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,752,804,000 after buying an additional 363,937 shares during the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp increased its position in Union Pacific by 15.2% in the fourth quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 6,962,650 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,587,763,000 after buying an additional 920,414 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its position in Union Pacific by 1.6% in the fourth quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 6,594,882 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,503,899,000 after buying an additional 105,111 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.8%

Shares of UNP traded up $1.69 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $225.46. The company had a trading volume of 3,514,670 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,273,911. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.65. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $227.07 and a 200 day moving average price of $231.00. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $258.07. The company has a market capitalization of $134.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.19. The business had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.09 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.73% and a net margin of 28.43%. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.74 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current 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 paid a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.45%. This is a positive change from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is 47.96%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on UNP shares. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $263.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Monday, June 2nd. Bank of America lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Susquehanna dropped their price target on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $257.00 and set a "positive" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Union Pacific from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. Finally, Stephens reduced their price target on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $258.21.

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.