Assenagon Asset Management S.A. Decreases Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lessened its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 47.2% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 647,425 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 578,675 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. owned 0.11% of Union Pacific worth $152,948,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of UNP. MV Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 79.5% in the first quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. now owns 921 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $218,000 after purchasing an additional 408 shares during the period. Central Valley Advisors LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 2.2% during the 1st quarter. Central Valley Advisors LLC now owns 9,318 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,202,000 after buying an additional 205 shares in the last quarter. Curated Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in Union Pacific by 2.8% during the first quarter. Curated Wealth Partners LLC now owns 4,388 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,037,000 after buying an additional 119 shares during the last quarter. Dividend Assets Capital LLC grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 8.7% in the first quarter. Dividend Assets Capital LLC now owns 41,164 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $9,725,000 after acquiring an additional 3,290 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Parsons Capital Management Inc. RI raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 3.1% in the 1st quarter. Parsons Capital Management Inc. RI now owns 10,357 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $2,447,000 after purchasing an additional 307 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UNP has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Stephens decreased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 28th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Redburn Atlantic raised Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 target price for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price target on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, Bank of America increased their price objective on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $257.74.

Union Pacific Price Performance

UNP stock traded down $1.64 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $224.08. The company's stock had a trading volume of 722,870 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,681,792. The firm has a market capitalization of $133.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a 50 day moving average of $220.28 and a two-hundred day moving average of $231.96. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $204.66 and a 12 month high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced 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 net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. The firm had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.11 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.69 EPS. The company's revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, May 30th will be paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.39%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is currently 48.29%.

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.