Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Shares Sold by Argus Investors Counsel Inc.

Argus Investors Counsel Inc. lessened its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 48.3% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 6,209 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 5,807 shares during the period. Argus Investors Counsel Inc.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,527,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Private Trust Co. NA raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.7% in the first quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 16,199 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $3,984,000 after buying an additional 274 shares during the last quarter. Leavell Investment Management Inc. increased its position in Union Pacific by 0.7% during the first quarter. Leavell Investment Management Inc. now owns 7,661 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,884,000 after purchasing an additional 51 shares during the last quarter. Patton Albertson Miller Group LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 9.6% during the first quarter. Patton Albertson Miller Group LLC now owns 26,135 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $6,427,000 after purchasing an additional 2,295 shares during the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 26.9% during the first quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 11,802 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $2,902,000 after purchasing an additional 2,500 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Oxler Private Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the first quarter worth approximately $1,180,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.9 %

NYSE UNP traded down $2.00 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $232.71. 2,096,386 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,236,044. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $190.71 and a 12 month high of $258.66. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99. The stock has a market capitalization of $141.98 billion, a PE ratio of 22.21, a PEG ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a 50 day moving average of $240.45 and a two-hundred day moving average of $239.38.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.69 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.50 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a net margin of 26.52% and a return on equity of 44.34%. The firm had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.97 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.67 EPS. The firm's revenue was down .4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.25 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 31st will be paid a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 31st. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.23%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 49.62%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages recently commented on UNP. StockNews.com raised shares of Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, April 26th. TD Cowen upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $252.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, April 26th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $198.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Friday, April 26th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Finally, Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $271.00 to $273.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, April 26th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $259.61.

Union Pacific Company 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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