Blue Trust Inc. Sells 3,067 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Blue Trust Inc. reduced its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 29.3% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 7,385 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 3,067 shares during the quarter. Blue Trust Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,792,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in UNP. Capital World Investors increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 92.1% in the fourth quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 20,136,349 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $4,658,142,000 after purchasing an additional 9,655,306 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth about $1,779,907,000. Capital Research Global Investors lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 95.0% during the 3rd quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 8,713,196 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,059,538,000 after buying an additional 4,244,226 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 72.7% during the 3rd quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 9,177,002 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,169,168,000 after buying an additional 3,861,636 shares during the last quarter. Finally, EdgePoint Investment Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter worth about $408,592,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNP has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Robert W. Baird set a $311.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, March 6th. Citigroup restated a “buy” rating and set a $307.00 price objective (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. UBS Group restated a “neutral” rating and set a $274.00 price objective (up from $253.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. Barclays reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $315.00 target price (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. Finally, Evercore reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $294.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $283.11.

Union Pacific Trading Up 2.9%

UNP stock opened at $267.61 on Friday. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52 week low of $210.84 and a 52 week high of $279.70. The company has a market capitalization of $158.88 billion, a PE ratio of 22.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.97. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $264.62 and its 200 day simple moving average is $250.68. 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 (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.93 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.86 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $6.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.12 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 29.20% and a return on equity of 39.58%. The business’s revenue was up 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.70 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.55 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

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

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In related news, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 2,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.70, for a total value of $549,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 114,642 shares in the company, valued at approximately $31,492,157.40. The trade was a 1.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Kenyatta G. Rocker sold 27,387 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred 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 sale, the executive vice president directly owned 61,102 shares in the company, valued at $16,605,079.52. This represents a 30.95% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 32,378 shares of company stock valued at $8,781,595. 0.22% of the stock is currently 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.