First Merchants Corp Sells 399 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

First Merchants Corp lessened its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 6.1% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 6,114 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 399 shares during the period. First Merchants Corp’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,444,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. PDS Planning Inc raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 25.5% during the 1st quarter. PDS Planning Inc now owns 4,303 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,016,000 after acquiring an additional 875 shares during the period. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 11.9% during the 1st quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 7,202 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,701,000 after purchasing an additional 767 shares in the last quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 35.7% during the 1st quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 1,139,585 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $269,216,000 after purchasing an additional 299,913 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 67.4% during the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 62,491 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $14,763,000 after purchasing an additional 25,155 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Phillips Wealth Planners LLC grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 20.4% during the 1st quarter. Phillips Wealth Planners LLC now owns 2,042 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $446,000 after purchasing an additional 346 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Trading Up 0.9%

Shares of UNP stock opened at $231.36 on Friday. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $258.07. The company has a current ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $222.11 and its 200 day moving average is $230.72. The stock has a market capitalization of $138.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.84, a P/E/G ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.73 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.80% and a net margin of 27.76%. The company had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.11 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.69 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, May 30th will be issued a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.32%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 48.29%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UNP has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Stephens reduced their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 14th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $263.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Monday, June 2nd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, March 7th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $295.00 target price for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, sixteen have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $258.39.

About Union Pacific

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.