ASR Vermogensbeheer N.V. Invests $12.09 Million in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Key Points

• ASR Vermogensbeheer N.V. has purchased a new stake in Union Pacific Corporation, investing approximately $12.09 million for 51,192 shares in the first quarter.
• Union Pacific recently reported earnings per share of $3.03, surpassing estimates, and announced a quarterly dividend increase to $1.38 per share, reflecting their strong financial performance.
• Analysts have mixed views on Union Pacific, with ratings including 11 hold ratings, 14 buy ratings, and two strong buy ratings, and an average price target of $258.21 for the stock.

ASR Vermogensbeheer N.V. bought a new stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 51,192 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $12,093,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of UNP. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 112.1% during the 4th quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 61,500 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $14,024,000 after buying an additional 32,500 shares during the period. Faithward Advisors LLC raised its stake in Union Pacific by 27.1% during the fourth quarter. Faithward Advisors LLC now owns 1,883 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $429,000 after acquiring an additional 402 shares in the last quarter. Texas Yale Capital Corp. lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 8.5% during the fourth quarter. Texas Yale Capital Corp. now owns 4,775 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,089,000 after acquiring an additional 375 shares during the period. CenterBook Partners LP acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $262,000. Finally, F M Investments LLC boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 30.0% in the 4th quarter. F M Investments LLC now owns 24,868 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $5,671,000 after purchasing an additional 5,746 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UNP has been the subject of several analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. Barclays downgraded Union Pacific from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Jefferies Financial Group raised Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their price target for the company from $250.00 to $285.00 in a report on Friday, July 25th. Redburn Atlantic raised Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $258.21.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

UNP stock opened at $225.50 on Thursday. Union Pacific Corporation has a twelve month low of $204.66 and a twelve month high of $258.07. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86. The company has a market cap of $133.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.05. The business's fifty day moving average is $227.07 and its 200-day moving average is $230.66.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.73% and a net margin of 28.43%. The firm had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.09 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.74 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 29th will be paid a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. This is a positive change from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 46.57%.

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.

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