Union Pacific Corporation $UNP Shares Sold by Cooper Investors PTY Ltd.

Key Points

• Cooper Investors PTY Ltd. has reduced its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 7.7%, making it the 10th largest holding in its investment portfolio, worth approximately $19.7 million.
• Several institutional investors, including Northern Trust Corp and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, have increased their stakes in Union Pacific during the first quarter, contributing to 80.38% institutional ownership of the stock.
• Union Pacific announced a quarterly dividend increase to $1.38 per share, representing a 2.5% dividend yield and a payout ratio of 47.96%.

Cooper Investors PTY Ltd. reduced its stake in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 7.7% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 85,779 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 7,117 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific accounts for approximately 3.6% of Cooper Investors PTY Ltd.'s portfolio, making the stock its 10th largest holding. Cooper Investors PTY Ltd.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $19,736,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of UNP. Highline Wealth Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 103.5% in the first quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 116 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in Union Pacific by 1,400.0% during the first quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 120 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares during the period. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the first quarter worth approximately $32,000. WPG Advisers LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 1st quarter valued at $33,000. Finally, Cornerstone Planning Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 50.5% in the 1st 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 period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UNP has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Baird R W raised shares of Union Pacific to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 1st. Loop Capital raised shares of Union Pacific from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $214.00 to $227.00 in a report on Tuesday, September 16th. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $250.00 to $285.00 in a report on Friday, July 25th. Raymond James Financial reissued a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Finally, Susquehanna decreased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $257.00 and set a "positive" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $259.38.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP stock traded up $0.50 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $220.86. 8,631,770 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,396,240. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.65. The company's 50 day moving average price is $222.66 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $225.01. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12 month low of $204.66 and a 12 month high of $256.84. The company has a market cap of $130.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.19, a PEG ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 1.03.

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, 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 business had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.74 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be given a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.5%. This is an increase from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 47.96%.

About Union Pacific

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.