Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp Boosts Stake in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp increased its stake in Union Pacific by 61% to 1,232,868 shares (an additional 466,935 shares), valued at about $285.2 million and making UNP its 20th-largest holding.
• Analysts are broadly positive — one Strong Buy, 13 Buys and eight Holds — with a consensus price target of $279.55 and several firms recently raising targets (Barclays $315, Baird $311, TD Cowen $282).
• Union Pacific beat the quarter's estimates with EPS of $2.93 (vs. $2.86) and revenue of $6.22 billion (vs. $6.12B), announced a $1.38 quarterly dividend ($5.52 annualized, 2.1% yield), and showed strong profitability (net margin 29.2%, ROE 39.6%).

Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp increased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 61.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,232,868 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 466,935 shares during the period. Union Pacific accounts for about 0.7% of Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp's holdings, making the stock its 20th largest holding. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp owned 0.21% of Union Pacific worth $285,239,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Quadcap Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 4.4% in the 4th quarter. Quadcap Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,282 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $528,000 after buying an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. Comprehensive Financial Consultants Institutional Inc. grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Comprehensive Financial Consultants Institutional Inc. now owns 19,285 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $4,461,000 after buying an additional 429 shares during the last quarter. Anchyra Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $595,000. Aprio Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 63.7% in the 4th quarter. Aprio Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,598 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,072,000 after buying an additional 1,789 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Camelot Portfolios LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $53,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently weighed in on the company. Weiss Ratings upgraded Union Pacific from a "buy (b-)" rating to a "buy (b)" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 21st. Susquehanna restated a "buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Monday, January 19th. Barclays restated an "overweight" rating and issued a $315.00 price target (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday. TD Cowen upped their price target on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $282.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, Robert W. Baird set a $311.00 price target on Union Pacific and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, March 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $279.55.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

UNP stock opened at $269.09 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $159.76 billion, a PE ratio of 22.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 0.96. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12-month low of $210.53 and a 12-month high of $274.79. The company has a current ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $251.93 and its 200 day simple moving average is $238.64.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.86 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $6.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.12 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 39.58% and a net margin of 29.20%.The firm's quarterly revenue was up 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.70 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 27th were given a $1.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 27th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is 45.47%.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In related news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 1,999 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $234.93, for a total value of $469,625.07. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.22% of the company's stock.

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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