Vanguard Group Inc. Sells 133,255 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Key Points

• Vanguard Group Inc. reduced its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 0.2%, selling 133,255 shares, thereby holding approximately 58.8 million shares valued at nearly $13.9 billion.
• Union Pacific reported a quarterly earnings of $3.03 per share, exceeding analyst expectations, with revenues of $6.15 billion, which reflects a year-over-year increase of 2.4%.
• The company recently declared an increased dividend of $1.38 per share, up from $1.34, representing a 2.5% yield and a dividend payout ratio of 46.57%.

Vanguard Group Inc. decreased its position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 0.2% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 58,831,282 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 133,255 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. owned approximately 9.85% of Union Pacific worth $13,898,302,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 29.8% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 3,699,109 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $873,878,000 after purchasing an additional 850,025 shares during the period. Natural Investments LLC boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 3.7% during the first quarter. Natural Investments LLC now owns 10,293 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,431,000 after purchasing an additional 364 shares during the period. Intrust Bank NA boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.6% during the first quarter. Intrust Bank NA now owns 15,094 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $3,566,000 after purchasing an additional 237 shares during the period. Wealthspire Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 101.6% during the first quarter. Wealthspire Advisors LLC now owns 28,392 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $6,708,000 after purchasing an additional 14,309 shares during the period. Finally, Wallington Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.6% during the first quarter. Wallington Asset Management LLC now owns 79,014 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $18,666,000 after purchasing an additional 1,260 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

UNP opened at $223.01 on Wednesday. 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 firm has a market capitalization of $132.25 billion, a PE ratio of 19.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 1.05. The business's 50-day moving average is $227.01 and its two-hundred day moving average is $230.70. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1 year low of $204.66 and a 1 year high of $258.07.

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 the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.19. The business had revenue of $6.15 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.73% and a net margin of 28.43%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.74 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be issued a $1.38 dividend. This is a boost from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is 46.57%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNP has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Evercore ISI lowered 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 note on Friday, July 25th. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $257.00 to $276.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Baird R W raised shares of Union Pacific to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Finally, Raymond James Financial reissued a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $258.21.

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.

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