Union Pacific Corporation $UNP Shares Sold by PensionDanmark Pensionsforsikringsaktieselskab

Key Points

• PensionDanmark reduced its Union Pacific stake by 4.6% in the second quarter, selling 4,532 shares and retaining 93,630 shares valued at approximately $25.5 million. Institutional investors collectively own 80.38% of UNP.
• Union Pacific exceeded quarterly expectations, reporting EPS of $3.41 versus the $3.26 consensus and revenue of $6.86 billion, up 11.5% year over year.
• The company raised its quarterly dividend to $1.42 per share, or $5.68 annually, producing a 1.9% yield. Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus with an average price target of $320.89.

PensionDanmark Pensionsforsikringsaktieselskab lowered its stake in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 4.6% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 93,630 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 4,532 shares during the quarter. PensionDanmark Pensionsforsikringsaktieselskab's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $25,467,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of UNP. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in Union Pacific by 1.1% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 59,329,262 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $13,724,045,000 after purchasing an additional 659,378 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its stake in Union Pacific by 4.3% during the fourth quarter. State Street Corp now owns 26,330,080 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $6,090,674,000 after purchasing an additional 1,082,285 shares during the period. Capital World Investors boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 92.1% in the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 20,136,349 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $4,658,142,000 after purchasing an additional 9,655,306 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 15,360,668 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $3,552,550,000 after purchasing an additional 296,814 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 16.8% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 14,463,071 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $3,509,030,000 after buying an additional 2,084,808 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.0%

NYSE UNP opened at $295.41 on Friday. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $279.53 and its 200-day simple moving average is $262.62. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52 week low of $210.84 and a 52 week 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 has a market cap of $175.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.92, a PEG ratio of 3.03 and a beta of 0.96.

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, topping 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 for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.72 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $3.03 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.9 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed 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 is Monday, August 31st. This represents a $5.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.9%. This is a boost from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 44.70%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UNP has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $317.00 price objective on Union Pacific and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Benchmark lifted their target price on Union Pacific from $325.00 to $335.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, July 24th. Citizens Jmp initiated coverage on Union Pacific in a research report on Wednesday, July 15th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $350.00 price target for the company. Bank of America boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $301.00 to $334.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company restated an "overweight" rating and set a $335.00 price target (up from $315.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $320.89.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the company'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 directly owned 43,012 shares of the company's stock, valued at $11,353,447.52. This represents a 6.50% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.22% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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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