Union Pacific Corporation $UNP Shares Purchased by Fayez Sarofim & Co

Key Points

• Fayez Sarofim & Co. increased its Union Pacific stake by 5.2% in the second quarter, adding 37,966 shares to own 772,772 shares worth approximately $210.2 million. Institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 80.38% of UNP.
• Union Pacific reported quarterly EPS of $3.41, beating estimates of $3.26, while revenue rose 11.5% year over year to $6.86 billion. The company also raised its quarterly dividend to $1.42 per share, implying a 1.8% yield.
• Analysts maintain a generally positive outlook, with Union Pacific carrying a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $320.89, compared with shares opening at $311.21.

Fayez Sarofim & Co boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 5.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 772,772 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 37,966 shares during the quarter. Fayez Sarofim & Co owned 0.13% of Union Pacific worth $210,194,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Acadian Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 40.4% during the 1st 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 in the last quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 0.5% during the second quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 20,606 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $4,741,000 after buying an additional 102 shares in the last quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.6% during the second quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC now owns 3,733 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $859,000 after buying an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. HUB Investment Partners LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 10.0% during the second quarter. HUB Investment Partners LLC now owns 6,091 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,401,000 after buying an additional 554 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Alliancebernstein L.P. grew its position in Union Pacific by 7.4% during the second quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 1,528,426 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $351,660,000 after buying an additional 105,664 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE:UNP opened at $311.21 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.99. The stock has a market capitalization of $184.88 billion, a PE ratio of 25.20, a P/E/G ratio of 3.16 and a beta of 0.96. Union Pacific Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $210.84 and a fifty-two week high of $315.99. The company has a fifty day moving average of $289.07 and a two-hundred day moving average of $269.15.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.26 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.85% and a return on equity of 38.46%. The business had revenue of $6.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.72 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $3.03 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. 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. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 31st will be issued a dividend of $1.42 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 31st. This is an increase from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. This represents a $5.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.8%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is currently 44.70%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have weighed in on UNP. Barclays reiterated an "overweight" rating and issued a $350.00 price objective (up from $315.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an "outperform" rating and set a $339.00 target price (up from $289.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Citigroup lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $326.00 to $349.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. UBS Group reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $310.00 price target (up from $286.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, July 24th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Union Pacific from $304.00 to $334.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $320.89.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In other news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total value of $789,504.36. Following the transaction, the executive vice president 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 transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.22% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Union Pacific 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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