Assenagon Asset Management S.A. Sells 578,675 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. reduced its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 47.2% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 647,425 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 578,675 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $152,948,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. EnRich Financial Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $31,000. PrairieView Partners LLC bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 38.8% in the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the period. Kentucky Trust Co bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $40,000. Finally, Stonebridge Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $45,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have issued reports on UNP. Citigroup raised shares of Union Pacific from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lowered their price target for the company from $260.00 to $244.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. UBS Group reduced their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $263.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Monday, June 2nd. Stephens reduced their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Finally, Redburn Atlantic upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $259.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $257.74.

Union Pacific Stock Up 1.1%

Shares of NYSE UNP opened at $226.51 on Wednesday. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $220.02 and its 200 day simple moving average is $232.01. The company has a market cap of $135.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.73 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.11 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.69 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 30th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.37%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 48.29%.

Union Pacific 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.