Union Pacific Corporation $UNP Stake Lessened by Hamel Associates Inc.

Hamel Associates Inc. cut its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 12.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 22,161 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 3,060 shares during the period. Union Pacific makes up approximately 1.5% of Hamel Associates Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 26th biggest position. Hamel Associates Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $5,126,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Public Sector Pension Investment Board increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 8.2% in the third quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 842,206 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $199,072,000 after buying an additional 63,523 shares in the last quarter. Magellan Asset Management Ltd bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the third quarter valued at $69,343,000. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1,581.2% in the third quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. now owns 232,000 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $54,838,000 after buying an additional 218,200 shares in the last quarter. Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Co increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 30.1% in the third quarter. Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Co now owns 105,049 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $24,830,000 after buying an additional 24,300 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 2.7% in the third quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D now owns 208,469 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $49,276,000 after buying an additional 5,572 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Kenyatta G. Rocker sold 27,387 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $271.76, for a total value of $7,442,691.12. Following the completion of 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 position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total transaction of $789,504.36. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 43,012 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $11,353,447.52. The trade was a 6.50% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 34,377 shares of company stock worth $9,251,221 in the last quarter. 0.22% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Union Pacific Stock Down 1.4%

UNP stock opened at $267.37 on Thursday. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12-month low of $210.84 and a 12-month high of $279.70. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53. The company has a market cap of $158.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.02, a PEG ratio of 2.88 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a 50 day moving average of $261.12 and a two-hundred day moving average of $248.22.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.86 by $0.07. Union Pacific had a net margin of 29.20% and a return on equity of 39.58%. The company had revenue of $6.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.12 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.70 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 3.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 29th will be given a $1.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 29th. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 45.47%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have issued reports on UNP. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $289.00 price target (up from $273.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. Robert W. Baird set a $311.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, March 6th. TD Cowen raised their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $256.00 to $282.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, April 24th. Raymond James Financial set a $310.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, April 24th. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised shares of Union Pacific from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 21st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $282.21.

Union Pacific Company Profile

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.