Natixis Advisors LLC Buys 8,907 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Key Points

• Natixis Advisors LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 1.7%, acquiring an additional 8,907 shares, bringing its total holdings to approximately 521,916 shares valued at $123.3 million.
• Union Pacific recently raised its quarterly dividend to $1.38 per share, up from $1.34, reflecting a 2.47% yield and a dividend payout ratio of 47.96%.
• Current consensus among analysts is a Moderate Buy rating for Union Pacific, with an average price target of $259.46, following recent upgrades from several investment firms.

Natixis Advisors LLC raised its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 1.7% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 521,916 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 8,907 shares during the quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC owned about 0.09% of Union Pacific worth $123,297,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. New Age Alpha Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 7,152.9% during the fourth quarter. New Age Alpha Advisors LLC now owns 5,077 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,158,000 after purchasing an additional 5,007 shares during the period. Meeder Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 223.2% during the fourth quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 307 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $70,000 after purchasing an additional 212 shares during the period. Summit Financial LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.5% during the fourth quarter. Summit Financial LLC now owns 17,154 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $3,912,000 after purchasing an additional 251 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FI increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 7.1% during the fourth quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 449,437 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $102,490,000 after purchasing an additional 29,928 shares during the period. Finally, Tradewinds LLC. bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $625,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently commented on UNP. Stephens lowered their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 28th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 7th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, July 25th. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $258.21.

Union Pacific Trading Down 1.2%

Shares of NYSE:UNP traded down $2.66 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $219.31. 4,637,305 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,972,172. The firm has a market capitalization of $130.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.05, a PEG ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 1.06. The business's fifty day moving average price is $227.09 and its 200-day moving average price is $230.93. 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 Corporation has a twelve month low of $204.66 and a twelve month high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results 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. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.43% and a return on equity of 41.73%. The business had revenue of $6.15 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.74 earnings per share. Union Pacific's quarterly revenue was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced 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 is a boost from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 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.