Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. Boosts Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in Union Pacific by 99.8% in Q4, buying 16,250 shares to hold 32,532 shares valued at about $7.53 million.
• Q1 earnings beat: Union Pacific reported $2.93 EPS vs. $2.86 expected and $6.22B revenue, prompting analyst price-target increases and a consensus rating of Moderate Buy with an average target of $279.55.
• Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern refiled an amended merger application claiming roughly $3.5 billion in annual shipper savings, but the plan faces strong opposition from rivals, unions and regulators, increasing the risk of prolonged review or imposed remedies.

Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 99.8% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 32,532 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 16,250 shares during the period. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $7,525,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.1% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 59,329,262 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $13,724,045,000 after purchasing an additional 659,378 shares during the period. Capital World Investors raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 193.3% in the third quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 10,481,043 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $2,477,404,000 after acquiring an additional 6,908,016 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 72.7% during the third quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 9,177,002 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $2,169,168,000 after buying an additional 3,861,636 shares in the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors grew its stake in Union Pacific by 95.0% in the 3rd quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 8,713,196 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $2,059,538,000 after acquiring an additional 4,244,226 shares during the period. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. increased its stake in Union Pacific by 18.9% in the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 7,164,334 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,693,434,000 after purchasing an additional 1,139,926 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Trending Headlines about Union Pacific

Here are the key news stories impacting Union Pacific this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Union Pacific reported a Q1 earnings beat, stronger margins and reaffirmed its outlook — a fundamental positive that underpins analyst upgrades and higher price targets. UPS or UNP: Which Transportation Stock Holds an Edge Post Q1 Earnings?
• Positive Sentiment: UNP and Norfolk Southern refiled an amended merger application with the Surface Transportation Board that includes full traffic data from all Class I rails and projects about $3.5 billion in annual shipper savings — a scenario investors see as long-term revenue/cost synergy if approved. Creating America's First Transcontinental Railroad...
• Neutral Sentiment: The refiled application frames the merged carrier as holding roughly a 39% market share and outlines conditions under which Union Pacific could walk away — information that clarifies deal economics but leaves regulatory risk open. Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern Refile Rail-Merger Application
• Negative Sentiment: Rival Canadian National (CNI) formally criticized the amended application as inadequate to address competitive harms and is actively engaging the STB — increasing the probability of prolonged review, mandated remedies, or outright rejection. CN Says Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern Merger Fails To Address Competitive Harms
• Negative Sentiment: Rivals, unions and a newly formed anti-merger coalition are mobilizing to block the deal, signaling political and stakeholder resistance that could delay approval or force costly concessions. Rails rivals, unions unite to block the Norfolk Southern-Union Pacific merger
• Negative Sentiment: Union Pacific CFO disclosed an insider sale of about $549,400 in UNP stock — a near-term negative signal that some investors interpret as reduced insider conviction (though the size is modest relative to market cap). Insider Selling: Union Pacific NYSE: UNP CFO Sells $549,400.00 in Stock

Union Pacific Stock Down 1.1%

Shares of Union Pacific stock opened at $266.40 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53, a current ratio of 0.92 and a quick ratio of 0.73. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1-year low of $210.84 and a 1-year high of $274.79. The business's fifty day moving average price is $252.18 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $239.42. The company has a market capitalization of $158.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.94, a PEG ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 0.99.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.93 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.86 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $6.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.12 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 39.58% and a net margin of 29.20%.The company's quarterly revenue was up 3.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.70 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.53 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 27th were paid a dividend of $1.38 per share. 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 (DPR) is currently 45.47%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have recently commented on UNP. Barclays restated an "overweight" rating and issued a $315.00 price objective (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an "overweight" rating and issued a $300.00 price objective (up from $260.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. Citigroup reissued a "buy" rating and set a $307.00 price target (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $282.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, April 24th. Finally, UBS Group reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $274.00 price objective (up from $253.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, April 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $279.55.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In other news, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 2,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.70, for a total transaction of $549,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 114,642 shares of the company's stock, valued at $31,492,157.40. This trade represents a 1.71% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 1,999 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, March 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $234.93, for a total value of $469,625.07. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 31,386 shares of company stock valued at $8,461,716 in the last quarter. 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.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.