Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) Shares Sold by Azimuth Capital Investment Management LLC

Key Points

• Azimuth Capital Investment Management LLC reduced its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 6.0%, now holding 45,175 shares valued at approximately $10.67 million.
• Union Pacific's recent performance saw a quarterly earnings per share (EPS) of $3.03, surpassing analysts' expectations, with revenues rising 2.4% year-over-year.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend increase from $1.34 to $1.38, reflecting a positive change in its dividend policy.

Azimuth Capital Investment Management LLC lessened its position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 6.0% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 45,175 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 2,877 shares during the period. Azimuth Capital Investment Management LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $10,672,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth about $662,000. Regal Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 23.9% in the fourth quarter. Regal Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,391 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $545,000 after buying an additional 461 shares during the period. Evergreen Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.1% in the fourth quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC now owns 9,816 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $2,238,000 after buying an additional 103 shares during the period. Wasatch Advisors LP boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 5.6% in the fourth quarter. Wasatch Advisors LP now owns 18,922 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $4,315,000 after buying an additional 1,000 shares during the period. Finally, Advisory Research Inc. boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.6% in the fourth quarter. Advisory Research Inc. now owns 6,650 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,516,000 after buying an additional 104 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UNP has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group raised Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price target for the company from $250.00 to $285.00 in a report on Friday, July 25th. Raymond James Financial reissued a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $263.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Monday, June 2nd. Stephens cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Finally, Evercore ISI cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $244.00 to $238.00 and set an "in-line" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $258.21.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP stock opened at $221.62 on Friday. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $258.07. The firm has a market capitalization of $131.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.05. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $227.11 and a 200 day simple moving average of $229.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.53.

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

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 29th will be issued a $1.38 dividend. 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. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.5%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is currently 46.57%.

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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