Nuveen LLC Makes New Investment in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Key Points

• Nuveen LLC invested approximately $988.82 million in Union Pacific Corporation by acquiring 4,185,667 shares in the first quarter.
• Union Pacific recently reported earnings of $3.03 per share, exceeding analyst expectations, with a revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.38 per share, which represents a 2.5% yield and marks an increase from the previous dividend of $1.34.

Nuveen LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm bought 4,185,667 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $988,822,000. Nuveen LLC owned 0.70% of Union Pacific at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Highline Wealth Partners LLC raised its position in Union Pacific by 103.5% in the 1st quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 116 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in Union Pacific in the 1st quarter valued at $32,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC raised its position in Union Pacific by 50.5% in the 1st quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 167 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares during the last quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL raised its position in Union Pacific by 38.8% in the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Finally, IMA Advisory Services Inc. bought a new position in Union Pacific in the 1st quarter valued at $43,000. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UNP traded down $0.76 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $218.89. 3,223,754 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,415,167. The firm has a market capitalization of $129.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.02, a P/E/G ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 1.05. 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 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $258.07. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $227.04 and its 200 day simple moving average is $230.04.

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 return on equity of 41.73% and a net margin of 28.43%. The company had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.09 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.74 earnings per share. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders 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. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.5%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is 46.57%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UNP has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price objective on Union Pacific from $257.00 to $276.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Redburn Atlantic raised Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 target price for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Raymond James Financial reissued a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Argus cut Union Pacific from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Baird R W raised Union Pacific to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $258.21.

About Union Pacific

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.