Eventide Asset Management LLC Raises Holdings in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• Eventide Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 117.5%, owning 24,725 shares valued at approximately $5.79 million as of the latest SEC filing.
• Union Pacific recently declared a quarterly dividend of $1.38 per share, an increase from the previous $1.34, with a yield of 2.5%.
• Analysts maintain a moderate outlook for Union Pacific, with an average price target of $258.21 and a mix of ratings including one Strong Buy and fourteen Buy ratings.

Eventide Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 117.5% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 24,725 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 13,359 shares during the quarter. Eventide Asset Management LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $5,787,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Northern Trust Corp boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 2.0% in the 1st quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 7,105,382 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,678,575,000 after purchasing an additional 142,732 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its stake in Union Pacific by 5.4% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 6,949,345 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,641,715,000 after purchasing an additional 354,463 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.7% in the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 5,105,784 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,206,191,000 after buying an additional 86,292 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 35.2% during the fourth quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 4,968,658 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,133,053,000 after buying an additional 1,294,643 shares during the period. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 10.8% during the first quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 4,626,200 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,092,893,000 after buying an additional 452,788 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently issued reports on UNP. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their target price on Union Pacific from $257.00 to $276.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Robert W. Baird started coverage on Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. They set a "neutral" rating and a $231.00 price target on the stock. Barclays lowered Union Pacific from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. BMO Capital Markets lifted 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. Finally, Argus lowered Union Pacific from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $258.21.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Union Pacific stock traded down $1.35 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $215.91. The company had a trading volume of 3,102,307 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,450,467. The company has a market capitalization of $128.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.76, a P/E/G ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 1.03. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $256.84. The company's fifty day moving average is $226.14 and its 200-day moving average is $226.61. The company has a current ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86.

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

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be paid a dividend of $1.38 per share. This is a boost from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.6%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is presently 47.96%.

Union Pacific Profile

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.