Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management Sells 2,109 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management lowered its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 18.4% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 9,325 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 2,109 shares during the quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $2,262,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Capital World Investors boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 92.1% in the fourth quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 20,136,349 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $4,658,142,000 after acquiring an additional 9,655,306 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth $1,779,907,000. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 72.7% during the third quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 9,177,002 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,169,168,000 after acquiring an additional 3,861,636 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors increased its position in Union Pacific by 26.0% during the fourth quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,980,904 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,540,105,000 after acquiring an additional 2,267,708 shares during the period. Finally, Baupost Group LLC MA bought a new position in Union Pacific during the third quarter worth $353,658,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UNP opened at $288.44 on Wednesday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $270.10 and a 200 day simple moving average of $254.84. The company has a current ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53. The firm has a market capitalization of $171.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.76, a PEG ratio of 3.03 and a beta of 0.96. Union Pacific Corporation has a one year low of $210.84 and a one year high of $291.66.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.93 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.86 by $0.07. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 39.58% and a net margin of 29.20%.The firm had revenue of $6.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.12 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.70 earnings per share. Union Pacific’s quarterly revenue was up 3.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.59 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 29th were issued a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 29th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 45.47%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UNP has been the subject of several research analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $304.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, July 10th. Barclays restated an “overweight” rating and set a $315.00 price objective (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. Susquehanna upped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $305.00 to $333.00 and gave the company a “positive” rating in a research report on Tuesday. Citigroup reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $326.00 target price (up from $307.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday, July 9th. Finally, Weiss Ratings cut shares of Union Pacific from a “buy (b)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 23rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $294.89.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In other news, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 2,000 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $274.70, for a total transaction of $549,400.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 114,642 shares in the company, valued at approximately $31,492,157.40. The trade was a 1.71% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Kenyatta G. Rocker sold 27,387 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $271.76, for a total transaction of $7,442,691.12. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 61,102 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,605,079.52. This trade represents a 30.95% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last three months, insiders sold 32,378 shares of company stock valued at $8,781,595. Company insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific 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.