Voya Investment Management LLC Raises Stake in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• Voya Investment Management LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 0.3% in Q1, now owning approximately 1.56 million shares valued at $367.3 million.
• Union Pacific reported earnings of $3.03 per share, surpassing estimates, and its quarterly revenue rose to $6.15 billion, reflecting a 2.4% increase year-over-year.
• The company announced an increased quarterly dividend of $1.38 per share, up from $1.34, translating to an annualized dividend of $5.52 and a yield of 2.6%.

Voya Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 0.3% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,554,972 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 4,921 shares during the quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC owned about 0.26% of Union Pacific worth $367,347,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Janus Henderson Group PLC grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 40.7% in the 4th quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 141,398 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $32,253,000 after acquiring an additional 40,915 shares in the last quarter. NorthRock Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 67.7% in the fourth quarter. NorthRock Partners LLC now owns 7,733 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,763,000 after purchasing an additional 3,122 shares during the last quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP lifted its position in Union Pacific by 51.3% during the fourth quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP now owns 63,119 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $14,394,000 after acquiring an additional 21,403 shares during the last quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 13.4% in the 4th quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 87,953 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $20,057,000 after purchasing an additional 10,394 shares during the period. Finally, Prana Capital Management LP grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 70.1% in the fourth quarter. Prana Capital Management LP now owns 9,416 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,147,000 after acquiring an additional 3,881 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UNP traded up $1.27 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $216.18. The company's stock had a trading volume of 4,483,833 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,295,584. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $256.84. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $224.46 and a 200-day moving average price of $225.79. The stock has a market capitalization of $128.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.78, a PEG ratio of 2.09 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.53.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.84 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.43% and a return on equity of 41.73%. The company had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.09 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.74 EPS. Union Pacific's revenue was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be paid a $1.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.6%. This is a boost from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is presently 47.96%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UNP has been the subject of several analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price objective on Union Pacific from $257.00 to $276.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Robert W. Baird assumed coverage on Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. They set a "neutral" rating and a $231.00 price target on the stock. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $238.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, July 25th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $263.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Monday, June 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $258.25.

Union Pacific Profile

Union Pacific Corporation, through its subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad Company, operates in the railroad business in the United States. The company offers transportation services for grain and grain products, fertilizers, food and refrigerated products, and coal and renewables to grain processors, animal feeders, ethanol producers, renewable biofuel producers, and other agricultural users; and construction products, industrial chemicals, plastics, forest products, specialized products, metals and ores, petroleum, liquid petroleum gases, soda ash, and sand, as well as finished automobiles, automotive parts, and merchandise in intermodal containers.