Diversify Advisory Services LLC Lowers Stock Position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Diversify Advisory Services LLC reduced its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 14.8% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,378 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 1,282 shares during the period. Diversify Advisory Services LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,743,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of UNP. Allred Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 0.5% in the 4th 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 during the period. Palogic Value Management L.P. boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Palogic Value Management L.P. now owns 2,823 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $644,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares in the last quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 38.8% in the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC boosted its position in Union Pacific by 1.6% during the 4th quarter. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC now owns 2,922 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $666,000 after buying an additional 47 shares during the period. Finally, First Financial Bank Trust Division boosted its position in Union Pacific by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Division now owns 2,803 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $662,000 after buying an additional 47 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP stock traded down $2.59 during trading on Friday, hitting $224.90. The company had a trading volume of 5,793,560 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,753,150. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91. The stock's 50-day moving average is $227.52 and its two-hundred day moving average is $231.17. The stock has a market capitalization of $134.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 1.05. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.73 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $6.03 billion during 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% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.69 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 29th will be paid 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 2.45%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 49.73%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNP has been the subject of several analyst reports. Sanford C. Bernstein restated an "outperform" rating and set a $271.00 price target (up previously from $267.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 7th. Bank of America lifted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $244.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $257.13.

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.