Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. Purchases 7,056 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. increased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 10.5%, acquiring an additional 7,056 shares, bringing their total holdings to 74,179 shares worth approximately $17 million.
• Union Pacific recently declared a quarterly dividend of $1.38 per share, up from $1.34, resulting in an annualized dividend yield of 2.3%.
• Equities analysts have mixed views on Union Pacific, with recommendations ranging from "Strong Buy" to "Hold," and an average target price set at $260.54.

Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. boosted its position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 10.5% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 74,179 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 7,056 shares during the quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $17,067,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Jmac Enterprises LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 54.2% in the second quarter. Jmac Enterprises LLC now owns 2,561 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $589,000 after purchasing an additional 900 shares in the last quarter. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 14.1% in the second quarter. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC now owns 3,611 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $831,000 after purchasing an additional 447 shares in the last quarter. Lecap Asset Management Ltd. bought a new position in Union Pacific in the second quarter worth $725,000. Kennebec Savings Bank raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.6% in the second quarter. Kennebec Savings Bank now owns 6,379 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,468,000 after purchasing an additional 101 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ASR Vermogensbeheer N.V. raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 4.8% in the second quarter. ASR Vermogensbeheer N.V. now owns 53,624 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $12,337,000 after purchasing an additional 2,432 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on UNP shares. Citigroup upgraded Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their price target for the company from $250.00 to $251.00 in a report on Monday, September 15th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. Raymond James Financial restated a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Argus downgraded Union Pacific from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 12th. Finally, Evercore ISI reduced their price target on Union Pacific from $244.00 to $238.00 and set an "in-line" rating for the company in a report on Friday, July 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and eleven have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $260.54.

Union Pacific Price Performance

NYSE UNP opened at $236.60 on Friday. Union Pacific Corporation has a one year low of $204.66 and a one year high of $256.84. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $223.67 and a 200 day moving average of $224.51. The company has a market capitalization of $140.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.56, a PEG ratio of 2.47 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.65.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.73% and a net margin of 28.43%.The company had revenue of $6.15 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.74 EPS. Union Pacific's revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th were paid a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 29th. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.3%. This is an increase from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is presently 47.96%.

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.

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