Sanctuary Advisors LLC Invests $29.72 Million in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• Sanctuary Advisors acquired a new $29.72 million stake in Union Pacific, purchasing 109,273 shares during the second quarter. Institutional investors collectively own 80.38% of the railroad operator.
• Analysts remain broadly bullish, with Union Pacific receiving a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $320.89; several firms recently raised their targets to between $339 and $350.
• Union Pacific exceeded quarterly earnings and revenue expectations, reporting $3.41 in EPS and $6.86 billion in revenue, while increasing its quarterly dividend to $1.42 per share from $1.38.

Sanctuary Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 109,273 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $29,722,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in UNP. Capital World Investors grew its position in Union Pacific by 92.1% in the fourth quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 20,136,349 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $4,658,142,000 after purchasing an additional 9,655,306 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth about $1,779,907,000. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 72.7% during the 3rd 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 during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 26.0% during the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,980,904 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $2,540,105,000 after buying an additional 2,267,708 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 16.8% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 14,463,071 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $3,509,030,000 after acquiring an additional 2,084,808 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. Barclays reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $350.00 target price (up from $315.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, July 24th. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed 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. Weiss Ratings raised Union Pacific from a "buy (b-)" rating to a "buy (b)" rating in a report on Friday, July 24th. Evercore restated an "outperform" rating and set a $294.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, June 25th. Finally, Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $326.00 to $349.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $320.89.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total transaction of $789,504.36. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 43,012 shares in the company, valued at $11,353,447.52. This trade represents a 6.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.22% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.0%

Shares of Union Pacific stock opened at $307.97 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.82. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $286.30 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $267.83. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1 year low of $210.84 and a 1 year high of $315.99. The company has a market capitalization of $182.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.94, a P/E/G ratio of 3.14 and a beta of 0.96.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 EPS 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 the consensus estimate of $6.72 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.85% and a return on equity of 38.46%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 11.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $3.03 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.93 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Monday, August 31st will be paid a $1.42 dividend. This is an increase from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 31st. This represents a $5.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.8%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 44.70%.

Union Pacific Company 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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