West Branch Capital LLC Cuts Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

West Branch Capital LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 12.1% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,619 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 499 shares during the period. West Branch Capital LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $855,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of UNP. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $20,683,000. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $45,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 21.7% in the 4th quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 77,383 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $17,729,000 after purchasing an additional 13,818 shares in the last quarter. Avestar Capital LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 13.3% in the 4th quarter. Avestar Capital LLC now owns 3,513 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $801,000 after purchasing an additional 412 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Aries Wealth Management increased its stake in Union Pacific by 4.5% in the 4th quarter. Aries Wealth Management now owns 4,641 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,058,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently weighed in on UNP. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $263.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Monday, June 2nd. Redburn Atlantic upgraded Union Pacific from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $259.00 target price on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Citigroup upgraded Union Pacific from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lowered their target price for the company from $260.00 to $244.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Susquehanna lowered their target price on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 14th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $257.74.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNP opened at $223.17 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $133.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.12, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $258.07. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $220.90 and a 200-day simple moving average of $231.64.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 EPS 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 business had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.11 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.69 EPS. Union Pacific’s revenue for the quarter was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, May 30th will be issued a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.40%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is currently 48.29%.

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.