Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) Shares Purchased by Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

Key Points

• Goldman Sachs increased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 29.8%, now holding approximately 3.7 million shares worth nearly $874 million.
• Union Pacific recently announced a quarterly dividend increase to $1.38 per share, resulting in an annualized dividend yield of 2.5%.
• Wall Street analysts have a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" for Union Pacific, with a price target averaging $258.21, following positive earnings performance exceeding expectations.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 29.8% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 3,699,109 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 850,025 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. owned about 0.62% of Union Pacific worth $873,878,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of UNP. Highline Wealth Partners LLC grew its stake in Union Pacific by 103.5% in the 1st quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 116 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 59 shares during the period. EnRich Financial Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC grew its stake in Union Pacific by 50.5% in the 1st quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 167 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 56 shares during the period. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL grew its stake in Union Pacific by 38.8% in the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently weighed in on UNP shares. Argus raised shares of Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Raymond James Financial reiterated a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 14th. Bank of America increased their price target on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein increased their price target on Union Pacific from $271.00 to $286.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, July 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $258.21.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

UNP traded down $0.39 on Friday, hitting $222.27. 2,345,506 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,336,163. The firm has a market cap of $131.82 billion, a PE ratio of 19.31, a P/E/G ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.05. Union Pacific Corporation has a twelve month low of $204.66 and a twelve month high of $258.07. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $227.09 and a two-hundred day moving average of $230.48. 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 released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.09 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.43% and a return on equity of 41.73%. Union Pacific's quarterly revenue was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.74 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm 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 2.5%. This is a positive change from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 46.57%.

Union Pacific Company 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.