Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Shares Sold by Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P.

Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. trimmed its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 38.4% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 463,443 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 288,635 shares during the period. Union Pacific comprises 1.0% of Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th biggest holding. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. owned approximately 0.08% of Union Pacific worth $104,859,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.4% during the 4th quarter. Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. now owns 3,000 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $737,000 after acquiring an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. boosted its position in Union Pacific by 5.6% during the fourth quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 59,034 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $14,500,000 after purchasing an additional 3,143 shares in the last quarter. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 69.2% in the fourth quarter. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt now owns 1,628 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $400,000 after purchasing an additional 666 shares during the last quarter. WestHill Financial Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $221,000. Finally, Twin Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 3.0% during the 4th quarter. Twin Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,394 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $342,000 after buying an additional 41 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Trading Up 0.3 %

UNP traded up $0.82 on Friday, reaching $244.53. 1,951,386 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,282,628. Union Pacific Co. has a twelve month low of $199.33 and a twelve month high of $258.66. The company’s 50 day moving average is $232.77 and its 200-day moving average is $239.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.89, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 1.05. The company has a market cap of $148.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.33, a PEG ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 1.06.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.71 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $6.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.05 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 26.90% and a return on equity of 42.62%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up .7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.57 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.12 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 30th will be given a $1.34 dividend. This is an increase from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 30th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.19%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 49.62%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have weighed in on UNP shares. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $198.00 to $210.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, April 26th. Raymond James reiterated a “strong-buy” rating and set a $280.00 target price (up previously from $275.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 26th. TD Cowen dropped their price target on Union Pacific from $259.00 to $255.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 26th. StockNews.com downgraded Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 18th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price objective on Union Pacific from $281.00 to $275.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 26th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $258.79.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,552 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $246.59, for a total value of $875,887.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now owns 64,945 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,014,787.55. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

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.