Sawgrass Asset Management LLC Cuts Stake in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Sawgrass Asset Management LLC trimmed its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 17.9% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 40,570 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 8,818 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific comprises about 1.2% of Sawgrass Asset Management LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest position. Sawgrass Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $9,590,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Howard Hughes Medical Institute acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 2nd quarter valued at $30,000. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 2nd quarter worth $31,000. Total Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 2nd quarter worth $31,000. Access Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Sagard Holdings Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the second quarter valued at about $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Union Pacific stock opened at $229.67 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $136.23 billion, a PE ratio of 19.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.99. Union Pacific Corporation has a one year low of $204.66 and a one year high of $256.84. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $231.23 and its 200 day moving average price is $226.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.75, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.75.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.99 by $0.09. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.73% and a return on equity of 42.23%. The company had revenue of $6.24 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.24 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.75 earnings per share. Union Pacific’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Investors of record on Friday, December 5th were issued a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 5th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 46.90%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have recently commented on UNP. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $263.00 price objective on Union Pacific and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Wednesday. TD Cowen restated a “buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, October 24th. BMO Capital Markets set a $255.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Finally, Susquehanna reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Monday, January 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $258.18.

Union Pacific 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.