Wallington Asset Management LLC Boosts Holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Key Points

• Wallington Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 1.6%, now holding 79,014 shares valued at approximately $18.67 million.
• Analysts are optimistic about Union Pacific, with ratings including 14 buy ratings, leading to a consensus price target of $258.21.
• Union Pacific recently declared a quarterly dividend of $1.38 per share, reflecting a increase from the previous dividend and a yield of 2.5%.

Wallington Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 1.6% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 79,014 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 1,260 shares during the period. Union Pacific makes up about 2.7% of Wallington Asset Management LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 10th largest position. Wallington Asset Management LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $18,666,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in UNP. Capital Research Global Investors grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 14.3% during the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,395,364 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $2,370,559,000 after acquiring an additional 1,298,178 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 15.2% in the fourth quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 6,962,650 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,587,763,000 after acquiring an additional 920,414 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 1.6% in the fourth quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 6,594,882 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,503,899,000 after buying an additional 105,111 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 4.6% in the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 6,439,861 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,468,546,000 after purchasing an additional 285,401 shares during the period. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 35.2% during the fourth quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 4,968,658 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,133,053,000 after buying an additional 1,294,643 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UNP has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Raymond James Financial reiterated a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday, July 15th. Sanford C. Bernstein increased their price target on Union Pacific from $271.00 to $286.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, July 21st. Redburn Atlantic upgraded Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 target price for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Robert W. Baird assumed coverage on Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $231.00 target price for the company. Finally, Argus upgraded shares of Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $258.21.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UNP traded down $0.39 during trading on Friday, reaching $222.27. 2,345,506 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,336,163. The company has a 50-day moving average of $227.09 and a 200-day moving average of $230.48. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $258.07. The stock has a market capitalization of $131.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.05. 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 released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.84 by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $6.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.09 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.43% and a return on equity of 41.73%. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.74 EPS. Analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be issued a $1.38 dividend. This is an increase from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.5%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.57%.

About Union Pacific

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.