Wharton Business Group LLC Sells 2,165 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Key Points

• Wharton Business Group LLC has reduced its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 7.6%, now holding 26,226 shares valued at approximately $6.2 million.
• The company recently reported quarterly earnings of $3.03 per share, exceeding expectations and showing a year-over-year revenue increase of 2.4%.
• Union Pacific has declared a quarterly dividend of $1.38 per share, marking an increase from the previous dividend of $1.34, which indicates a positive trajectory in shareholder returns.

Wharton Business Group LLC reduced its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 7.6% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 26,226 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 2,165 shares during the quarter. Wharton Business Group LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $6,196,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Greykasell Wealth Strategies Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the first quarter valued at about $127,000. Strategy Asset Managers LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 4.0% in the first quarter. Strategy Asset Managers LLC now owns 1,601 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $378,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares in the last quarter. Hemington Wealth Management increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 10.1% in the first quarter. Hemington Wealth Management now owns 853 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $201,000 after purchasing an additional 78 shares in the last quarter. Fi3 FINANCIAL ADVISORS LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the first quarter valued at approximately $201,000. Finally, WealthShield Partners LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 14.9% during the 1st quarter. WealthShield Partners LLC now owns 6,804 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,607,000 after acquiring an additional 884 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Stephens reduced their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 28th. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $238.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, July 25th. Redburn Atlantic raised shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. Argus upgraded shares of Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Finally, Baird R W upgraded shares of Union Pacific to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $258.21.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNP traded down $0.39 on Friday, reaching $222.27. 2,345,506 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,336,163. The company has a fifty day moving average of $227.09 and a 200-day moving average of $230.45. Union Pacific Corporation has a twelve month low of $204.66 and a twelve month high of $258.07. 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. The company has a current ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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 company had revenue of $6.15 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.74 EPS. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared 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. This is a boost 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 dividend yield of 2.5%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is currently 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.