Northern Trust Corp Buys 142,732 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• Northern Trust Corp increased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 2.0%, acquiring an additional 142,732 shares, bringing its total ownership to approximately 7.1 million shares valued at $1.68 billion.
• Union Pacific recently reported a quarterly earnings per share of $3.03, exceeding estimates by $0.19, and showed a revenue increase of 2.4% year-over-year, totaling $6.15 billion.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $1.38, which is an increase from the previous $1.34, representing an annualized dividend of $5.52 with a yield of 2.5%.

Northern Trust Corp lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 2.0% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,105,382 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 142,732 shares during the quarter. Northern Trust Corp owned about 1.19% of Union Pacific worth $1,678,575,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Fiduciary Trust Co raised its stake in Union Pacific by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. Fiduciary Trust Co now owns 102,213 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $23,309,000 after buying an additional 2,807 shares during the last quarter. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at $781,000. LGT Group Foundation lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 9.7% in the first quarter. LGT Group Foundation now owns 5,398 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,275,000 after acquiring an additional 477 shares during the period. Nuveen LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific in the first quarter valued at about $988,822,000. Finally, SlateStone Wealth LLC grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 6.2% during the 1st quarter. SlateStone Wealth LLC now owns 13,264 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $3,133,000 after purchasing an additional 772 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.4%

Shares of UNP stock opened at $220.55 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $130.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.16, a PEG ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 1.05. 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 Corporation has a twelve month low of $204.66 and a twelve month high of $258.07. The company's 50-day moving average price is $227.06 and its 200-day moving average price is $229.29.

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 the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.43% and a return on equity of 41.73%. The firm had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.74 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be issued a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. This is an increase from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 46.57%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on UNP shares. Bank of America lifted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Union Pacific from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, July 7th. Stephens lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Union Pacific from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $257.00 to $276.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $258.21.

Union Pacific 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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