Union Pacific Corporation $UNP Shares Sold by Jupiter Asset Management Ltd.

Key Points

• Jupiter Asset Management cut its Union Pacific stake by 31.6% in the fourth quarter, selling 89,392 shares and ending with 193,321 shares worth about $44.7 million.
• Several analysts turned more positive on the railroad operator, with multiple firms lifting price targets; the stock now has a Moderate Buy consensus and an average target of $280.47.
• Union Pacific reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings of $2.93 per share on revenue of $6.22 billion, and it also announced a quarterly dividend of $1.38 per share.

Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. lessened its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 31.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 193,321 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 89,392 shares during the period. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $44,719,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Rachor Investment Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Tucker Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. High Point Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Caitlin John LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the third quarter valued at about $27,000. Finally, Saranac Partners Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the third quarter valued at about $27,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Get Union Pacific SMS alerts:

Sign Up

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts recently commented on the stock. UBS Group reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $274.00 target price (up from $253.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, April 24th. Benchmark raised their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, April 24th. Barclays reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $315.00 price objective (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, April 24th. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an "overweight" rating and set a $300.00 price objective (up from $260.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada restated an "outperform" rating and issued a $289.00 target price (up from $273.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, April 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $280.47.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In other news, EVP Kenyatta G. Rocker sold 27,387 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $271.76, for a total value of $7,442,691.12. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 61,102 shares in the company, valued at $16,605,079.52. This represents a 30.95% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 1,999 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $234.93, for a total value of $469,625.07. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last quarter, insiders sold 31,386 shares of company stock worth $8,461,716. Insiders own 0.22% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

UNP opened at $266.59 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12-month low of $210.84 and a 12-month high of $279.70. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $256.04 and a two-hundred day moving average of $245.44. The firm has a market capitalization of $158.28 billion, a PE ratio of 21.96, a P/E/G ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.99.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.93 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.86 by $0.07. Union Pacific had a net margin of 29.20% and a return on equity of 39.58%. The business had revenue of $6.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.12 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.70 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.53 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 29th will be given a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 29th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 45.47%.

About Union Pacific

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.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.