Nykredit A S Takes $43.50 Million Position in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• Nykredit A/S acquired 159,939 Union Pacific shares during the second quarter, worth approximately $43.5 million. Institutional investors collectively own 80.38% of the railroad operator.
• Analysts remain broadly positive, with Union Pacific carrying a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating and an average price target of $320.89; several firms recently raised their targets.
• Union Pacific exceeded quarterly earnings and revenue expectations, while revenue increased 11.5% year over year. The company also raised its quarterly dividend to $1.42 per share, implying a 2.0% annual yield.

Nykredit A S purchased a new position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 159,939 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $43,503,000.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific in the 2nd quarter worth about $387,000. Natural Investments LLC grew its position in Union Pacific by 15.9% during the 2nd quarter. Natural Investments LLC now owns 7,832 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,130,000 after purchasing an additional 1,072 shares during the last quarter. Symphony Financial Ltd. Co. increased its stake in Union Pacific by 8.4% during the 2nd quarter. Symphony Financial Ltd. Co. now owns 1,784 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $486,000 after purchasing an additional 139 shares in the last quarter. Banco de Sabadell S.A increased its stake in Union Pacific by 1.2% during the 2nd quarter. Banco de Sabadell S.A now owns 7,403 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,014,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ironvine Capital Partners LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.8% in the second quarter. Ironvine Capital Partners LLC now owns 191,825 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $52,176,000 after buying an additional 5,225 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on UNP. Bank of America upped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $301.00 to $334.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an "outperform" rating and set a $339.00 price target (up from $289.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, July 24th. UBS Group restated a "neutral" rating and issued a $310.00 price objective (up from $286.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, July 24th. Citizens Jmp began coverage on Union Pacific in a research report on Wednesday, July 15th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $350.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Stephens upgraded Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $320.89.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.2%

NYSE:UNP opened at $289.24 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12 month low of $210.84 and a 12 month high of $315.99. The company has a market cap of $171.83 billion, a PE ratio of 23.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.88 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $293.56 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $270.79.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.26 by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $6.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.72 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 38.46% and a net margin of 28.85%.The company's revenue was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $3.03 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 13.02 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 31st will be issued a $1.42 dividend. This is a positive change from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. This represents a $5.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 31st. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is currently 45.99%.

Union Pacific Profile

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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