Union Pacific Corporation $UNP Shares Bought by Russell Investments Group Ltd.

Key Points

• Russell Investments Group increased its Union Pacific stake by 10.8% in the second quarter, bringing its holdings to 485,632 shares valued at approximately $132.1 million. Institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 80.38% of the company.
• Analysts maintain a favorable outlook, with Union Pacific receiving a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $320.89. Several firms recently raised their targets, including Barclays to $350 and TD Cowen to $325.
• 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 per share, equivalent to a 1.9% annualized yield.

Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 10.8% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 485,632 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 47,422 shares during the period. Russell Investments Group Ltd. owned about 0.08% of Union Pacific worth $132,114,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Acadian Asset Management LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific by 40.4% in the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 2,312 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $546,000 after purchasing an additional 665 shares during the period. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 20,606 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $4,741,000 after purchasing an additional 102 shares in the last quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 1.6% during the 2nd quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC now owns 3,733 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $859,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares during the period. HUB Investment Partners LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 10.0% during the 2nd quarter. HUB Investment Partners LLC now owns 6,091 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,401,000 after purchasing an additional 554 shares during the period. Finally, Alliancebernstein L.P. raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 7.4% during the 2nd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 1,528,426 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $351,660,000 after buying an additional 105,664 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently commented on UNP shares. Citizens Jmp assumed coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $350.00 price target for the company. Evercore reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $294.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, June 25th. TD Cowen reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $325.00 price objective (up from $282.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Barclays reissued an "overweight" rating and issued a $350.00 target price (up from $315.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, July 24th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company restated an "overweight" rating and set a $335.00 target price (up from $315.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $320.89.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UNP opened at $300.06 on Tuesday. The company's 50-day moving average price is $283.63 and its 200 day moving average price is $265.84. The stock has a market cap of $178.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.30, a PEG ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a current ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52 week low of $210.84 and a 52 week high of $315.99.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $3.26 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 38.46% and a net margin of 28.85%.The business had revenue of $6.86 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.72 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $3.03 earnings per share. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 11.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 31st will be issued a dividend of $1.42 per share. This represents a $5.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 31st. This is an increase from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 44.70%.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In related news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the 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 owned 43,012 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $11,353,447.52. This represents a 6.50% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.22% of the company's stock.

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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