Union Pacific Corporation $UNP Shares Bought by National Pension Service

Key Points

• National Pension Service increased its Union Pacific stake by 2.8% in the second quarter, adding 38,296 shares to own 1.39 million shares valued at approximately $377 million. Institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 80.38% of UNP.
• Analysts maintain a favorable outlook, with Union Pacific carrying a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $320.89. Recent targets include $334 from JPMorgan and Bank of America, while Citizens JMP set a $350 target.
• Union Pacific reported quarterly EPS of $3.41, exceeding estimates, while revenue rose 11.5% year over year to $6.86 billion. The company also raised its quarterly dividend to $1.42, equivalent to a 2.0% annualized yield.

National Pension Service increased its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 2.8% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,386,156 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 38,296 shares during the quarter. National Pension Service owned 0.23% of Union Pacific worth $377,034,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Tucker Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. SWAN Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 2,575.0% during the 4th quarter. SWAN Capital LLC now owns 107 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Scarborough Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 1st quarter worth $27,000. Finally, Merkkuri Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 1st quarter worth $29,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on UNP shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Union Pacific from $304.00 to $334.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, July 24th. Citizens Jmp initiated coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $350.00 price objective on the stock. Stephens raised shares of Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a "buy (b-)" rating to a "buy (b)" rating in a report on Friday, July 24th. Finally, Bank of America lifted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $301.00 to $334.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $320.89.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP stock opened at $285.27 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $169.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.10, a P/E/G ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 0.96. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1-year low of $210.84 and a 1-year high of $315.99. The company has a current ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $294.77 and its 200-day simple moving average is $271.51.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.26 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 38.46% and a net margin of 28.85%.The firm had revenue of $6.86 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.72 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $3.03 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 11.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 13.02 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 Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 31st will be given a $1.42 dividend. This represents a $5.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.0%. This is a positive change from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 31st. Union Pacific's payout ratio is currently 45.99%.

About Union Pacific

Union Pacific Corporation is a transportation company that operates Union Pacific Railroad, one of the largest freight railroad networks in the United States. The company provides rail transportation and logistics services for a broad range of commodities, including agricultural products, automotive goods, chemicals, coal, industrial products, and intermodal shipments.

Union Pacific's railroad network serves the western two-thirds of the United States, connecting major markets and ports across approximately 23 states.

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