Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) Stake Cut by Keeler Thomas Management LLC

Key Points

• Keeler Thomas Management LLC reduced its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 66.8%, now owning 7,638 shares valued at $1.8 million after selling 15,373 shares in the first quarter.
• Union Pacific's recent quarterly earnings showed a notable earnings-per-share (EPS) of $3.03, exceeding analyst estimates by $0.19 and reflecting a 2.4% revenue increase year-over-year.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $1.38 per share, marking an increase from the previous dividend of $1.34, with a current dividend yield of 2.4%.

Keeler Thomas Management LLC trimmed its position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 66.8% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 7,638 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 15,373 shares during the period. Keeler Thomas Management LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,804,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of UNP. Highline Wealth Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 103.5% during the 1st quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 116 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. EnRich Financial Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the 1st quarter valued at $32,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 50.5% during the 1st quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 167 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 56 shares during the period. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 38.8% during the 4th 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 during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have commented on UNP. Sanford C. Bernstein upped their price objective on Union Pacific from $271.00 to $286.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, July 21st. Susquehanna cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $257.00 and set a "positive" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Bank of America upped 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. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 7th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their price objective for the company from $250.00 to $285.00 in a research report on Friday, July 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $258.21.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.2%

Shares of Union Pacific stock traded down $0.39 on Friday, hitting $222.27. 2,345,506 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,336,163. The stock 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. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86. The firm's 50-day moving average is $227.09 and its 200 day moving average is $230.48. 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 released its earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $6.15 billion during 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 business's revenue was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.74 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 29th will be paid a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.5%. This is a boost from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.57%.

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.