Magellan Asset Management Ltd Cuts Position in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Magellan Asset Management Ltd trimmed its position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 2.4% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 286,438 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 6,928 shares during the quarter. Magellan Asset Management Ltd’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $66,259,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Continuum Advisory LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 12.7% during the 4th quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 2,224 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $514,000 after buying an additional 251 shares during the period. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 104,910 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $24,268,000 after purchasing an additional 898 shares during the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 16.3% during the 4th quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 144,547 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $33,436,000 after purchasing an additional 20,249 shares during the last quarter. Intellectus Partners LLC increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 8.6% during the 4th quarter. Intellectus Partners LLC now owns 7,380 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,707,000 after purchasing an additional 582 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sivia Capital Partners LLC increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 6.8% during the 4th quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,579 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $365,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Trading Up 0.5%

Shares of UNP stock opened at $263.54 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 0.92. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1 year low of $210.84 and a 1 year high of $279.70. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $258.71 and a two-hundred day moving average of $246.85. The firm has a market capitalization of $156.47 billion, a PE ratio of 21.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.78 and a beta of 0.97.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly 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 return on equity of 39.58% and a net margin of 29.20%.The company had revenue of $6.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.12 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.70 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.53 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. Citigroup restated a “buy” rating and set a $307.00 price objective (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. TD Cowen boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $282.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, April 24th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Union Pacific from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 21st. Robert W. Baird set a $311.00 price objective on Union Pacific and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, March 6th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein upped their price objective on Union Pacific from $289.00 to $293.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 31st. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have issued a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $280.47.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction 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 transaction, the executive vice president owned 43,012 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,353,447.52. The trade was a 6.50% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Kenyatta G. Rocker sold 27,387 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $271.76, for a total value of $7,442,691.12. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 61,102 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $16,605,079.52. This trade represents a 30.95% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last quarter, insiders sold 34,377 shares of company stock worth $9,251,221. 0.22% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.