Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Stock Holdings Cut by Stokes Capital Advisors LLC

Stokes Capital Advisors LLC cut its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 4.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 26,043 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 1,084 shares during the quarter. Stokes Capital Advisors LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $5,892,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. raised its position in Union Pacific by 1.4% during the fourth quarter. Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. now owns 3,000 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $737,000 after acquiring an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. lifted its position in Union Pacific by 5.6% during the 4th quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 59,034 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $14,500,000 after acquiring an additional 3,143 shares during the last quarter. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 69.2% during the 4th quarter. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt now owns 1,628 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $400,000 after purchasing an additional 666 shares during the period. WestHill Financial Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at $221,000. Finally, Twin Capital Management Inc. grew its position in Union Pacific by 3.0% during the fourth quarter. Twin Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,394 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $342,000 after buying an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In other news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,552 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $246.59, for a total transaction of $875,887.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now owns 64,945 shares in the company, valued at $16,014,787.55. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

UNP traded up $0.82 on Friday, hitting $244.53. 1,951,386 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,282,628. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $199.33 and a 12-month high of $258.66. The company has a 50 day moving average of $232.77 and a 200-day moving average of $239.02. The company has a quick ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.89. The stock has a market capitalization of $148.97 billion, a PE ratio of 23.33, a PEG ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 1.06.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.71 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $6.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.05 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 42.62% and a net margin of 26.90%. Union Pacific’s revenue was up .7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.57 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.12 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 30th will be paid a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.19%. This is an increase from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 30th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 49.62%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Susquehanna dropped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $250.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, June 25th. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $290.00 to $280.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Raymond James reaffirmed a “strong-buy” rating and issued a $280.00 target price (up from $275.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, April 26th. Wells Fargo & Company initiated coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Friday, June 7th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $270.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Loop Capital cut shares of Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and reduced their target price for the company from $276.00 to $238.00 in a research report on Monday, June 17th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $258.79.

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.