Prudential PLC Grows Position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Key Points

• Prudential PLC increased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 9.1% during Q1, now owning 125,458 shares valued at approximately $29.6 million.
• Union Pacific reported earnings of $3.03 per share, surpassing estimates, along with a 2.4% revenue increase year-over-year to $6.15 billion.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend increase from $1.34 to $1.38 per share, with an annualized yield of 2.5% and a dividend payout ratio of 46.57%.

Prudential PLC grew its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 9.1% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 125,458 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 10,448 shares during the quarter. Prudential PLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $29,638,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Allred Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Allred Capital Management LLC now owns 8,349 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,904,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 38.8% during the fourth quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the period. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC raised its stake in Union Pacific by 1.6% during the fourth quarter. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC now owns 2,922 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $666,000 after buying an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Division lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.7% in the first quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Division now owns 2,803 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $662,000 after buying an additional 47 shares during the period. Finally, Stiles Financial Services Inc lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.6% in the first quarter. Stiles Financial Services Inc now owns 2,963 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $700,000 after buying an additional 48 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of Union Pacific stock opened at $219.54 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $130.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.05. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12 month low of $204.66 and a 12 month high of $258.07. The company has a current ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $227.10 and its 200 day simple moving average is $230.12.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.73% and a net margin of 28.43%. The business had revenue of $6.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.09 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.74 earnings per share. Union Pacific's revenue was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be given 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 is Friday, August 29th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.57%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently weighed in on UNP. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Union Pacific from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, July 25th. Argus raised Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Baird R W raised shares of Union Pacific to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. Stephens lowered their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Finally, Raymond James Financial reissued a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target 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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