Applied Finance Capital Management LLC Cuts Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Applied Finance Capital Management LLC reduced its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 3.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 78,986 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 2,671 shares during the quarter. Applied Finance Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $18,670,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of UNP. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 10.6% in the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 93,337 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $21,475,000 after buying an additional 8,925 shares during the period. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 9.8% in the third quarter. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA now owns 52,849 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $12,492,000 after acquiring an additional 4,707 shares during the period. CX Institutional grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 39.8% in the third quarter. CX Institutional now owns 65,826 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $15,559,000 after purchasing an additional 18,742 shares in the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 15.1% during the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 135,188 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $31,955,000 after purchasing an additional 17,696 shares during the period. Finally, AustralianSuper Pty Ltd purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter worth about $802,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.7%

Shares of NYSE:UNP opened at $254.46 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $150.94 billion, a PE ratio of 21.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.91. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $254.94. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $234.32 and a 200 day moving average of $227.64.

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

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be issued a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is presently 46.12%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on UNP shares. Citigroup reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $270.00 target price (up previously from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Union Pacific from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research note on Friday. Barclays reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $285.00 target price (up previously from $270.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Raymond James Financial reissued a “strong-buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Finally, 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. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $258.32.

About Union Pacific

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.