NewEdge Advisors LLC Sells 1,977 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• NewEdge Advisors LLC reduced its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 2.2% during the first quarter, ending with 88,759 shares valued at approximately $20.97 million.
• Several institutional investors increased their holdings in Union Pacific, with MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS increasing by 19.9%, now owning over 1.2 million shares worth about $289.41 million.
• Union Pacific announced a quarterly dividend increase to $1.38 per share, up from $1.34, representing an annualized yield of 2.5% and reflecting a payout ratio of 47.96%.

NewEdge Advisors LLC cut its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 2.2% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 88,759 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 1,977 shares during the period. NewEdge Advisors LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $20,968,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Highline Wealth Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. WPG Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the 1st quarter worth approximately $33,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific by 50.5% in the 1st quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 167 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 56 shares in the last quarter. Finally, IMA Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the 1st quarter worth approximately $43,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE:UNP traded down $1.35 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $215.91. The stock had a trading volume of 3,111,012 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,188,364. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1-year low of $204.66 and a 1-year high of $256.84. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $226.14 and its 200-day simple moving average is $226.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.53. The stock has a market capitalization of $128.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.76, a PEG ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 1.03.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 earnings per share (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 business had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.09 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.74 EPS. Union Pacific's revenue 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 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be given a $1.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.6%. This is a positive change from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 47.96%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNP has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Bank of America increased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Evercore ISI cut their target price on shares of 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. Barclays downgraded shares of Union Pacific from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Sanford C. Bernstein increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $271.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, July 21st. Finally, Robert W. Baird started 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 on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $258.21.

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.