MASTERINVEST Kapitalanlage GmbH Lowers Stake in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

MASTERINVEST Kapitalanlage GmbH reduced its position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 4.9% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 33,890 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 1,748 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific makes up about 0.9% of MASTERINVEST Kapitalanlage GmbH’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 24th largest holding. MASTERINVEST Kapitalanlage GmbH’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $8,222,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Ethos Financial Group LLC raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 26.5% during the 1st quarter. Ethos Financial Group LLC now owns 1,459 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $353,000 after purchasing an additional 306 shares during the period. SouthState Bank Corp lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 0.8% during the 1st quarter. SouthState Bank Corp now owns 53,775 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $13,047,000 after buying an additional 435 shares in the last quarter. Advisors Preferred LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 74.3% in the 1st quarter. Advisors Preferred LLC now owns 2,086 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $506,000 after buying an additional 889 shares during the period. Sanctuary Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 4.7% in the 1st quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 109,248 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $26,506,000 after buying an additional 4,874 shares during the period. Finally, Cornerstone Advisory LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 5.9% in the 1st quarter. Cornerstone Advisory LLC now owns 4,363 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,059,000 after buying an additional 243 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UNP opened at $288.44 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $171.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.76, a P/E/G ratio of 3.03 and a beta of 0.96. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52-week low of $210.84 and a 52-week high of $291.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 0.92. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $270.10 and its two-hundred day moving average is $254.84.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.93 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.86 by $0.07. Union Pacific had a net margin of 29.20% and a return on equity of 39.58%. The business had revenue of $6.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.12 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.70 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.59 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, May 29th were given a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 29th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is currently 45.47%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UNP has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Citigroup started coverage on Union Pacific in a research note on Wednesday. They issued an “outperform” rating for the company. UBS Group restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $274.00 price objective (up from $253.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. Barclays reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $315.00 target price (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. BMO Capital Markets reissued a “market perform” rating and set a $285.00 target price (up from $278.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, April 24th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $304.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, July 10th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $294.89.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Kenyatta G. Rocker sold 27,387 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $271.76, for a total transaction of $7,442,691.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 61,102 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,605,079.52. This represents a 30.95% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total value of $789,504.36. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 43,012 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $11,353,447.52. This represents a 6.50% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 32,378 shares of company stock worth $8,781,595. Corporate 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.