Swiss National Bank Has $403.95 Million Stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Key Points

• Swiss National Bank reduced its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation by 0.6%, owning 1,709,900 shares valued at approximately $403.9 million after selling 11,100 shares in the first quarter.
• Union Pacific's latest quarterly earnings exceeded expectations with an EPS of $3.03 compared to the forecasted $2.84, alongside a revenue increase of 2.4% year-over-year.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend increase to $1.38 per share, reflecting a 2.5% yield, and will be paid to shareholders on September 30th.

Swiss National Bank cut its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 0.6% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,709,900 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 11,100 shares during the period. Swiss National Bank owned 0.29% of Union Pacific worth $403,947,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Highline Wealth Partners LLC boosted its position in Union Pacific by 103.5% in the 1st quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 116 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. EnRich Financial Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at $31,000. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the first quarter valued at $32,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 50.5% in the first quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 167 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $37,000 after acquiring an additional 56 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL increased its position in Union Pacific by 38.8% in the fourth quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have weighed in on the company. Barclays cut Union Pacific from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Robert W. Baird began coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. They set a "neutral" rating and a $231.00 price target for the company. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Evercore ISI decreased their target price on Union Pacific from $244.00 to $238.00 and set an "in-line" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 25th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $257.00 to $276.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently 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, reaching $222.27. 2,345,506 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,336,163. Union Pacific Corporation has a one year low of $204.66 and a one year high of $258.07. The company has a current ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86. The company has a 50-day moving average of $227.09 and a 200 day moving average of $230.45. The company has a market capitalization of $131.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.31, a PEG ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.05.

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

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 29th will be issued a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. This is a positive change from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. Union Pacific's payout ratio is presently 46.57%.

Union Pacific Company 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.