First Trust Advisors LP Grows Holdings in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

First Trust Advisors LP increased its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 2.4% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 1,010,639 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 23,363 shares during the quarter. First Trust Advisors LP’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $238,885,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of UNP. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the second quarter worth about $1,856,340,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 22,618.2% during the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,624,636 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $603,876,000 after purchasing an additional 2,613,083 shares during the last quarter. Amundi lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 35.6% during the second quarter. Amundi now owns 4,782,577 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,134,236,000 after purchasing an additional 1,255,231 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 32.8% in the 2nd quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 3,152,042 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $725,222,000 after purchasing an additional 778,411 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 62.2% in the 3rd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 1,599,743 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $378,131,000 after buying an additional 613,427 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

UNP stock opened at $253.98 on Friday. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $244.90 and its 200 day simple moving average is $233.00. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $268.14. The stock has a market capitalization of $150.71 billion, a PE ratio of 21.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 0.95.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.92 by ($0.06). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.89% and a net margin of 29.12%.The business had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.15 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.91 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down .6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 27th will be issued a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 46.12%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $265.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Susquehanna reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Monday, January 19th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $245.00 price target on Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, December 11th. TD Cowen lowered their price target on Union Pacific from $257.00 to $255.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Raymond James Financial reiterated a “strong-buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $263.77.

About Union Pacific

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.