Scharf Investments LLC Sells 20,966 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Scharf Investments LLC lessened its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 3.5% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 585,546 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 20,966 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific makes up about 3.9% of Scharf Investments LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 13th biggest position. Scharf Investments LLC owned approximately 0.10% of Union Pacific worth $144,003,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 211.4% in the 4th quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 109 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Scarborough Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Finally, Transcendent Capital Group LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at about $34,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms recently commented on UNP. StockNews.com cut shares of Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on Union Pacific from $248.00 to $274.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $237.00 to $243.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 9th. Evercore ISI increased their price objective on Union Pacific from $271.00 to $273.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, April 26th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Union Pacific from $198.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, April 26th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $258.92.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP stock traded down $0.14 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $223.47. 1,610,843 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,305,673. Union Pacific Co. has a 52-week low of $199.33 and a 52-week high of $258.66. The company has a quick ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99. The company has a market cap of $136.34 billion, a PE ratio of 21.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 1.05. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $233.55 and a 200 day moving average of $240.40.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.50 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.97 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 44.34% and a net margin of 26.52%. Union Pacific’s revenue for the quarter was down .4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.67 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.25 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 31st will be given a dividend of $1.30 per share. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.33%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 31st. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 49.62%.

Union Pacific Company Profile

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.