B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG Has $39.51 Million Stock Position in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG increased its stake in Union Pacific by 13.6% to 167,139 shares, worth about $39.51 million after buying 20,003 shares in Q3.
• Other large moves include Norges Bank opening a new position worth ~$1.856 billion, and institutional investors collectively own 80.38% of UNP.
• Union Pacific reported $2.86 EPS for the quarter (missed estimates by $0.06) with revenue down 0.6% YoY, and pays a quarterly dividend of $1.38 (annualized $5.52, 2.2% yield; ex-dividend Feb 27).

B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 13.6% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 167,139 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 20,003 shares during the period. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $39,506,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the second quarter worth $1,856,340,000. Fisher Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 6,428,229 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,519,441,000 after buying an additional 29,514 shares during the last quarter. Amundi lifted its position in Union Pacific by 35.6% during the 2nd quarter. Amundi now owns 4,782,577 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,134,236,000 after buying an additional 1,255,231 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in Union Pacific by 2.8% during the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,693,498 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $873,018,000 after buying an additional 101,776 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 32.8% during the 2nd quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 3,152,042 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $725,222,000 after buying an additional 778,411 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Union Pacific stock opened at $253.98 on Friday. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12 month low of $204.66 and a 12 month high of $268.14. The stock's 50 day moving average is $244.90 and its 200-day moving average is $233.00. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64. The company has a market capitalization of $150.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.22, a PEG ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 0.95.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.92 by ($0.06). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.89% and a net margin of 29.12%.The business had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.15 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.91 earnings per share. Union Pacific's revenue was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be given a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. Union Pacific's payout ratio is currently 46.12%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have weighed in on UNP shares. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $280.00 price target on Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday, December 18th. Barclays reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $285.00 price objective (up from $270.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Weiss Ratings raised Union Pacific from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $267.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. Finally, TD Cowen dropped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $257.00 to $255.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $263.77.

About Union Pacific

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.

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