Union Pacific Corporation $UNP Shares Sold by Northeast Investment Management

Northeast Investment Management lessened its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 4.2% in the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 172,449 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 7,623 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific comprises approximately 1.7% of Northeast Investment Management’s portfolio, making the stock its 17th biggest position. Northeast Investment Management’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $41,840,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Cambient Family Office LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth about $1,319,000. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1,581.2% in the 3rd quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. now owns 232,000 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $54,838,000 after purchasing an additional 218,200 shares during the last quarter. North Dakota State Investment Board acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $4,746,000. First National Bank of Omaha boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 35.8% in the 4th quarter. First National Bank of Omaha now owns 54,635 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $12,665,000 after purchasing an additional 14,399 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Avanza Fonder AB purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,449,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Up 2.9%

NYSE:UNP opened at $267.61 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $158.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.04, a PEG ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.97. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1-year low of $210.84 and a 1-year high of $279.70. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $264.62 and its 200-day moving average price is $250.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53, a current ratio of 0.92 and a quick ratio of 0.73.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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 period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.70 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.55 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

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

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In related news, EVP Kenyatta G. Rocker sold 27,387 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $271.76, for a total transaction of $7,442,691.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 61,102 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,605,079.52. This trade represents a 30.95% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total value of $789,504.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 43,012 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $11,353,447.52. The trade was a 6.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold 32,378 shares of company stock worth $8,781,595 over the last quarter. 0.22% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UNP has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an “outperform” rating and set a $289.00 price target (up from $273.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, April 24th. Susquehanna reissued a “positive” rating and set a $305.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, June 5th. Sanford C. Bernstein upped their target price on Union Pacific from $289.00 to $293.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 31st. TD Cowen upped their target price on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $282.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, April 24th. Finally, Benchmark raised their target price on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, April 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $283.11.

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.