Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ Grows Stock Position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Key Points

• Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB increased its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation by 1.3% during the first quarter, bringing its total investment to approximately $29.36 million.
• Several institutional investors significantly boosted their stakes in Union Pacific, with Geode Capital Management growing its investment by 12.6% in the fourth quarter.
• Union Pacific recently announced a quarterly dividend increase to $1.38 per share, representing an annualized payout of $5.52 and a dividend yield of 2.46%.

Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ raised its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 1.3% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 124,280 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 1,589 shares during the period. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $29,360,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Highline Wealth Partners LLC grew 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 buying an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. EnRich Financial Partners LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the 1st quarter valued at $32,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC grew 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 buying an additional 56 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL grew 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 buying an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have commented on UNP. Bank of America raised their target price on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. Argus raised Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. Barclays raised their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Jefferies Financial Group raised Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their target price for the company from $250.00 to $285.00 in a report on Friday, July 25th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $271.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, July 21st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $258.21.

Union Pacific Trading Up 0.4%

Shares of NYSE:UNP traded up $0.88 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $224.65. 2,964,904 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,271,097. 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 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $258.07. The firm has a market cap of $134.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 1.05. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $227.07 and its 200 day moving average price is $231.00.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 earnings per share (EPS) 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 business had revenue of $6.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.09 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.74 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be issued a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.46%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. This is a boost from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is currently 47.96%.

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.