Union Pacific Corporation $UNP Stock Sold by Hosking Partners LLP

Hosking Partners LLP lessened its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 6.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 56,250 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 4,120 shares during the quarter. Hosking Partners LLP’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $15,307,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in UNP. BNP Paribas raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 21.5% in the second quarter. BNP Paribas now owns 60,465 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $16,454,000 after acquiring an additional 10,706 shares in the last quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 9.4% in the second quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 102,949 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $28,002,000 after purchasing an additional 8,842 shares during the period. Eastern Bank grew its stake in Union Pacific by 2.6% during the 3rd quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 214,567 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $58,390,000 after purchasing an additional 5,380 shares in the last quarter. KBC Group NV grew its stake in Union Pacific by 17.7% during the 2nd quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 108,489 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $29,509,000 after purchasing an additional 16,295 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Axiom Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the 1st quarter worth $9,151,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have weighed in on UNP. Susquehanna cut their price target on Union Pacific from $345.00 to $333.00 and set a “positive” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 2nd. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on Union Pacific from $311.00 to $344.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, July 27th. Stephens raised Union Pacific to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 8th. Evercore reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $294.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, June 25th. Finally, Erste Group Bank started coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday, August 27th. They set a “buy” rating on the stock. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $325.00.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Union Pacific stock opened at $287.85 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $287.41 and a 200-day simple moving average of $277.80. The stock has a market cap of $171.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.95. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12-month low of $215.53 and a 12-month high of $315.99.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.26 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 38.46% and a net margin of 28.85%. The firm had revenue of $6.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.72 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $3.03 earnings per share. Union Pacific’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 13.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 31st were given a dividend of $1.42 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 31st. This represents a $5.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. This is an increase from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is currently 45.99%.

About Union Pacific

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is a transportation company that operates one of the largest freight railroad networks in the United States. Through its Union Pacific Railroad subsidiary, the company moves goods across the western two-thirds of the country, connecting major agricultural, industrial, energy, population and port markets.

Union Pacific transports a broad range of commodities and products, including agricultural goods, automotive shipments, chemicals, coal, industrial products, forest products and intermodal containers.