Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Stock Position Lessened by Partners Group Holding AG

Partners Group Holding AG trimmed its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 10.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 173,141 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 20,888 shares during the period. Union Pacific makes up 5.1% of Partners Group Holding AG’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 4th largest holding. Partners Group Holding AG’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $42,527,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Silver Oak Advisory Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth $219,000. Personal CFO Solutions LLC boosted its position in Union Pacific by 39.3% in the third quarter. Personal CFO Solutions LLC now owns 1,407 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $287,000 after purchasing an additional 397 shares during the last quarter. Allegheny Financial Group LTD grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 22.5% during the 4th quarter. Allegheny Financial Group LTD now owns 10,885 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,674,000 after purchasing an additional 2,000 shares during the period. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at about $238,000. Finally, Nordea Investment Management AB lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 46.9% in the 4th quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 87,905 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $21,596,000 after purchasing an additional 28,052 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages recently issued reports on UNP. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, April 26th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $198.00 to $210.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, April 26th. Stifel Nicolaus raised Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their target price for the stock from $248.00 to $267.00 in a report on Friday, May 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Friday. They set an “overweight” rating and a $270.00 price target for the company. Finally, Benchmark upped their price target on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $266.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 10th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $260.70.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP traded down $0.34 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $227.97. 2,555,622 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,235,612. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $194.60 and a 52 week high of $258.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 0.93. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $237.04 and a 200-day moving average of $240.62. The stock has a market cap of $139.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.75, a PEG ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.69 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.50 by $0.19. The business had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.97 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 44.34% and a net margin of 26.52%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down .4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.67 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.25 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 28th. Investors of record on Friday, May 31st will be paid a dividend of $1.30 per share. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.28%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 31st. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 49.62%.

About Union Pacific

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.