Union Pacific Corporation $UNP Position Boosted by Allstate Corp

Key Points

• Allstate Corp increased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 17.9% during the first quarter, owning 21,311 shares valued at $5,035,000.
• Wall Street analysts show a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" for Union Pacific, with a target price projected at $258.21.
• Union Pacific recently announced a quarterly dividend increase to $1.38 per share, marking a positive change from the previous $1.34.

Allstate Corp lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 17.9% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 21,311 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 3,240 shares during the quarter. Allstate Corp's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $5,035,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of UNP. Fiduciary Trust Co lifted its position in Union Pacific by 2.8% in the fourth quarter. Fiduciary Trust Co now owns 102,213 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $23,309,000 after purchasing an additional 2,807 shares during the period. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at about $781,000. LGT Group Foundation lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 9.7% in the 1st quarter. LGT Group Foundation now owns 5,398 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,275,000 after acquiring an additional 477 shares during the last quarter. Nuveen LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 1st quarter valued at about $988,822,000. Finally, SlateStone Wealth LLC boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 6.2% during the 1st quarter. SlateStone Wealth LLC now owns 13,264 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $3,133,000 after purchasing an additional 772 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on UNP. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their target price for the stock from $250.00 to $285.00 in a report on Friday, July 25th. Susquehanna decreased their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $257.00 and set a "positive" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Baird R W upgraded Union Pacific to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. Finally, Robert W. Baird assumed coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, July 1st. They set a "neutral" rating and a $231.00 price target on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $258.21.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

UNP stock opened at $225.1270 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $133.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.56, a P/E/G ratio of 2.19 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 firm has a 50 day moving average of $226.91 and a two-hundred day moving average of $228.91. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 earnings per share (EPS) 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 company had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.74 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be issued a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. This is a positive change 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%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 46.57%.

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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