Daiichi Life Insurance Co. Ltd. Purchases Shares of 44,364 Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Daiichi Life Insurance Co. Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund purchased 44,364 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $12,067,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Capital World Investors grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 92.1% in the fourth quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 20,136,349 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $4,658,142,000 after buying an additional 9,655,306 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $1,779,907,000. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 72.7% in the third quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 9,177,002 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,169,168,000 after acquiring an additional 3,861,636 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 26.0% in the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,980,904 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,540,105,000 after acquiring an additional 2,267,708 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 16.8% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 14,463,071 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $3,509,030,000 after acquiring an additional 2,084,808 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In related news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total value of $789,504.36. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 43,012 shares in the company, valued at $11,353,447.52. The trade was a 6.50% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.22% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Union Pacific Trading Up 1.3%

Shares of UNP stock opened at $307.97 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $286.30 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $267.60. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. The company has a market capitalization of $182.96 billion, a PE ratio of 24.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.14 and a beta of 0.96. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12-month low of $210.84 and a 12-month high of $315.99.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.26 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 38.46% and a net margin of 28.85%.The company had revenue of $6.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.72 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $3.03 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 11.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Monday, August 31st will be issued a dividend of $1.42 per share. This represents a $5.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 31st. This is an increase from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 44.70%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UNP has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Benchmark boosted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $325.00 to $335.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Raymond James Financial reiterated a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Monday, July 13th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $311.00 to $344.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, July 27th. BMO Capital Markets reissued a "market perform" rating and set a $320.00 price target (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Finally, Citigroup upped their price objective on Union Pacific from $326.00 to $349.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $320.89.

Union Pacific Company Profile

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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