Vontobel Holding Ltd. Acquires 80,786 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• Vontobel Holding increased its Union Pacific stake by 13.9% in the second quarter, purchasing 80,786 additional shares and ending the period with 661,251 shares valued at approximately $179.9 million. Institutional investors collectively own 80.38% of the company.
• Union Pacific reported quarterly earnings of $3.41 per share, exceeding estimates of $3.26, while revenue rose 11.5% year over year to $6.86 billion. Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating with an average price target of $320.89.
• The company raised its quarterly dividend to $1.42 per share, representing an annualized dividend of $5.68 and a 1.9% yield. Separately, executive vice president Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares for about $789,500.

Vontobel Holding Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 13.9% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 661,251 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 80,786 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd. owned about 0.11% of Union Pacific worth $179,860,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of UNP. Cambient Family Office LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth $1,319,000. First National Bank of Omaha boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 35.8% in the fourth quarter. First National Bank of Omaha now owns 54,635 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $12,665,000 after acquiring an additional 14,399 shares in the last quarter. North Dakota State Investment Board purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at $4,746,000. Sage Investment Advisers LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at $997,000. Finally, Truist Financial Corp raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 3.1% in the 4th quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 1,016,071 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $235,038,000 after purchasing an additional 30,079 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In related news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total transaction of $789,504.36. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 43,012 shares of the company's stock, valued at $11,353,447.52. The trade was a 6.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 0.22% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UNP has been the subject of several research analyst reports. UBS Group reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $310.00 target price (up from $286.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Benchmark boosted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $325.00 to $335.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Raymond James Financial reissued a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Monday, July 13th. Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $326.00 to $349.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, July 24th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group set a $317.00 price objective on Union Pacific and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $320.89.

Union Pacific Price Performance

UNP opened at $293.57 on Friday. 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 company has a market cap of $174.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.04 and a beta of 0.96. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $283.00 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $265.13. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12-month low of $210.84 and a 12-month high of $315.99.

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

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

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

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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