Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Co Purchases 5,000 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Co increased its Union Pacific stake by 5,000 shares in the fourth quarter, lifting its total holdings to 96,500 shares valued at about $22.3 million.
• Union Pacific reported strong quarterly results, with EPS of $2.93 beating estimates and revenue of $6.22 billion topping forecasts; revenue also rose 3.2% from a year earlier.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.38 per share and received generally positive analyst coverage, with a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $280.47.

Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Co grew its position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 5.5% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 96,500 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 5,000 shares during the period. Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Co's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $22,322,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Rachor Investment Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Tucker Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. High Point Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. Caitlin John LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the third quarter valued at $27,000. Finally, Saranac Partners Ltd acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the third quarter valued at $27,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UNP opened at $266.59 on Friday. Union Pacific Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $210.84 and a fifty-two week high of $279.70. The stock has a market cap of $158.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.96, a PEG ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 0.92. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $256.04 and its 200 day simple moving average is $245.44.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.93 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.86 by $0.07. Union Pacific had a net margin of 29.20% and a return on equity of 39.58%. The firm had revenue of $6.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.12 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.70 EPS. The company's quarterly revenue was up 3.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 29th will be paid a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 29th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 45.47%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the company. Weiss Ratings upgraded Union Pacific from a "buy (b-)" rating to a "buy (b)" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 21st. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an "outperform" rating and set a $289.00 price target (up from $273.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated a "market perform" rating and set a $285.00 price target (up from $278.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. TD Cowen increased their price target on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $282.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, April 24th. Finally, Raymond James Financial set a $310.00 price target on Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $280.47.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In other news, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 2,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, April 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $274.70, for a total transaction of $549,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 114,642 shares in the company, valued at $31,492,157.40. The trade was a 1.71% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 1,999 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction on Friday, March 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $234.93, for a total transaction of $469,625.07. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold a total of 31,386 shares of company stock worth $8,461,716 in the last quarter. Insiders own 0.22% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific 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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