Barden Capital Management Inc. Cuts Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Barden Capital Management Inc. reduced its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 23.0% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,811 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 1,137 shares during the period. Barden Capital Management Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $937,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Nordea Investment Management AB raised its stake in Union Pacific by 46.9% in the fourth quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 87,905 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $21,596,000 after buying an additional 28,052 shares in the last quarter. Marcum Wealth LLC grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 13.4% during the fourth quarter. Marcum Wealth LLC now owns 2,980 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $732,000 after purchasing an additional 353 shares during the last quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.2% during the fourth quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 5,057 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,242,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. BKM Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth about $285,000. Finally, Atlas Private Wealth Advisors purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth about $208,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP stock traded down $0.71 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $242.30. 3,869,624 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,297,365. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $230.55 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $239.06. Union Pacific Co. has a 1-year low of $199.33 and a 1-year high of $258.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.76. The firm has a market cap of $147.83 billion, a PE ratio of 23.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.09 and a beta of 1.06.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.50 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a net margin of 26.52% and a return on equity of 44.34%. The company had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.97 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.67 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down .4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.15 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 30th will be given a dividend of $1.34 per share. This is an increase from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.21%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 30th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is currently 49.62%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the company. TD Cowen raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $252.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, April 26th. Susquehanna dropped their price objective on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $250.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, June 25th. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Monday, April 8th. They set a “hold” rating and a $250.00 price objective on the stock. Raymond James reissued a “strong-buy” rating and set a $280.00 price target (up previously from $275.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 26th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $258.54.

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.