Danske Bank A S Buys New Position in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• Danske Bank A/S purchased 466,604 shares of Union Pacific worth approximately $126.9 million, while institutional investors collectively own 80.38% of the railroad operator.
• Analysts maintain a generally positive outlook, with Union Pacific receiving a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $320.89.
• Union Pacific exceeded quarterly earnings and revenue expectations, and increased its quarterly dividend from $1.38 to $1.42 per share, representing a 1.9% annualized yield.

Danske Bank A S purchased a new stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 466,604 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $126,916,000. Danske Bank A S owned approximately 0.08% of Union Pacific as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Capital World Investors lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 92.1% in the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 20,136,349 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $4,658,142,000 after purchasing an additional 9,655,306 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth $1,779,907,000. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific by 72.7% during 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 buying an additional 3,861,636 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 26.0% during 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 buying an additional 2,267,708 shares in the last quarter. 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 worth $3,509,030,000 after buying an additional 2,084,808 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNP has been the topic of several recent research reports. Citigroup upped their price target on Union Pacific from $326.00 to $349.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Bank of America raised their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $301.00 to $334.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed a "market perform" rating and issued a $320.00 price objective (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, July 24th. TD Cowen reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $325.00 target price (up from $282.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, July 24th. Finally, Robert W. Baird upped their price target on Union Pacific from $311.00 to $344.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, July 27th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $320.89.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total transaction of $789,504.36. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 43,012 shares in the company, valued at $11,353,447.52. The trade was a 6.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 0.22% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNP opened at $301.69 on Thursday. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $179.23 billion, a PE ratio of 24.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.05 and a beta of 0.96. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $284.87 and its 200-day moving average price is $266.83. Union Pacific Corporation has a twelve month low of $210.84 and a twelve month high of $315.99.

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

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm 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 $1.42 dividend. This represents a $5.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 31st. This is a positive change from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 44.70%.

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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