Union Pacific Corporation $UNP Shares Sold by Anchor Capital Advisors LLC

Key Points

• Anchor Capital Advisors reduced its Union Pacific position by 5.6% in the second quarter, selling 3,508 shares and retaining 59,443 shares valued at approximately $16.2 million. Institutional investors collectively own 80.38% of the company.
• Union Pacific reported quarterly EPS of $3.41, exceeding estimates of $3.26, while revenue rose 11.5% year over year to $6.86 billion. Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating with an average price target of $320.89.
• The company increased its quarterly dividend to $1.42 per share, or $5.68 annually, implying a 2.0% yield and a 45.99% payout ratio.

Anchor Capital Advisors LLC lessened its position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 5.6% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 59,443 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 3,508 shares during the period. Anchor Capital Advisors LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $16,168,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Cambient Family Office LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $1,319,000. First National Bank of Omaha grew its position in Union Pacific by 35.8% in the fourth quarter. First National Bank of Omaha now owns 54,635 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $12,665,000 after buying an additional 14,399 shares during the last quarter. North Dakota State Investment Board bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $4,746,000. Sage Investment Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at $997,000. Finally, National Pension Service boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. National Pension Service now owns 1,316,496 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $304,532,000 after acquiring an additional 15,785 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on UNP. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Union Pacific from $304.00 to $334.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Evercore restated an "outperform" rating and set a $294.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, June 25th. Stephens upgraded shares of Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 8th. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $311.00 to $344.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Finally, Bank of America boosted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $301.00 to $334.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $320.89.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.0%

NYSE:UNP opened at $289.54 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $172.01 billion, a PE ratio of 23.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.88 and a beta of 0.96. Union Pacific Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $210.84 and a fifty-two week high of $315.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.82. The stock's 50-day moving average is $294.29 and its two-hundred day moving average is $271.18.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.26 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.85% and a return on equity of 38.46%. The business had revenue of $6.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.72 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $3.03 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 13.02 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 31st will be paid a $1.42 dividend. This represents a $5.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.0%. This is a boost from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 31st. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 45.99%.

Union Pacific Profile

Union Pacific Corporation NYSE: UNP is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services.

Union Pacific's core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western two‑thirds of the United States.

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