Premier Fund Managers Ltd Lowers Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Premier Fund Managers Ltd reduced its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 14.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 197,462 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 33,801 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific makes up 1.9% of Premier Fund Managers Ltd’s portfolio, making the stock its 20th biggest holding. Premier Fund Managers Ltd’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $46,644,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Howard Hughes Medical Institute acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter valued at about $30,000. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Total Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Access Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the second quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, Sagard Holdings Management Inc. purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the second quarter worth approximately $33,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have weighed in on UNP. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $265.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Union Pacific from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. BMO Capital Markets reissued a “market perform” rating and set a $295.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $245.00 price objective on Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, TD Cowen reduced their price objective on Union Pacific from $257.00 to $255.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $260.14.

Union Pacific Stock Up 1.3%

Shares of NYSE UNP opened at $266.34 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $239.22 and a 200 day moving average price of $230.06. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $267.17. The company has a market cap of $158.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.25, a P/E/G ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 0.98.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.92 by ($0.06). The company had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.15 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.89% and a net margin of 29.12%.Union Pacific’s quarterly revenue was down .6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.91 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be paid a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 46.12%.

Union Pacific Company Profile

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services.

Union Pacific’s core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western two‑thirds of the United States.