Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) Shares Sold by Benjamin Edwards Inc.

Key Points

• Benjamin Edwards Inc. reduced its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 17.9% in the first quarter, now holding 22,627 shares worth $5.34 million.
• Union Pacific reported strong earnings results, with $3.03 EPS for the last quarter, beating estimates of $2.84, alongside a revenue of $6.15 billion.
• The company has announced a quarterly dividend of $1.38 per share, showing an increase from the previous dividend of $1.34, representing a 2.5% dividend yield.

Benjamin Edwards Inc. lowered its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 17.9% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 22,627 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 4,942 shares during the period. Benjamin Edwards Inc.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $5,345,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Allred Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 0.5% in the fourth quarter. Allred Capital Management LLC now owns 8,349 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,904,000 after buying an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 38.8% in the fourth quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.6% in the fourth quarter. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC now owns 2,922 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $666,000 after buying an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Division boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.7% during the first quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Division now owns 2,803 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $662,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Stiles Financial Services Inc boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.6% during the first quarter. Stiles Financial Services Inc now owns 2,963 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $700,000 after acquiring an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP stock opened at $222.27 on Monday. 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 Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $204.66 and a fifty-two week high of $258.07. The stock's 50-day moving average is $227.09 and its two-hundred day moving average is $230.32. The firm has a market cap of $131.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.31, a PEG ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.09 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.73% and a net margin of 28.43%. The business's revenue was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.74 EPS. Analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal 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 issued a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.5%. This is a positive change from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. Union Pacific's payout ratio is currently 46.57%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UNP has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Argus raised Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Citigroup lowered Union Pacific from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $270.00 to $250.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Finally, Evercore ISI decreased 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, eleven have given a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price 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.

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