Diligent Investors LLC Lowers Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Diligent Investors LLC lowered its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 27.0% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 1,855 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 686 shares during the period. Diligent Investors LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $438,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Fiduciary Trust Co raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Fiduciary Trust Co now owns 102,213 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $23,309,000 after purchasing an additional 2,807 shares during the period. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $781,000. Pinnbrook Capital Management LP acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,954,000. Miramar Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 3.1% during the 4th quarter. Miramar Capital LLC now owns 54,564 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $12,443,000 after buying an additional 1,648 shares during the period. Finally, Portfolio Design Labs LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 19.8% during the 4th quarter. Portfolio Design Labs LLC now owns 7,703 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,757,000 after buying an additional 1,273 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.2%

Union Pacific stock opened at $220.48 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $131.73 billion, a PE ratio of 19.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.77. Union Pacific Co. has a fifty-two week low of $204.66 and a fifty-two week high of $258.07. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $220.53 and a 200 day moving average price of $232.30.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.73 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. The firm had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.11 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.69 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.43%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.29%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have issued reports on UNP shares. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 14th. Bank of America raised their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Stephens reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 28th. Raymond James reaffirmed a “strong-buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Barclays reduced their price objective on Union Pacific from $285.00 to $260.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $257.74.

Union Pacific Company 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.