Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. Raises Holdings in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. raised its position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 4.9% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,249,972 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 58,944 shares during the period. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $289,881,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Capital World Investors lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 193.3% in the third quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 10,481,043 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,477,404,000 after buying an additional 6,908,016 shares in the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors grew its stake in Union Pacific by 95.0% during the 3rd quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 8,713,196 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,059,538,000 after acquiring an additional 4,244,226 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 72.7% in the 3rd quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 9,177,002 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,169,168,000 after acquiring an additional 3,861,636 shares during the last quarter. EdgePoint Investment Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the 3rd quarter valued at about $408,592,000. Finally, Baupost Group LLC MA purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $353,658,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 1,999 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $234.93, for a total value of $469,625.07. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 2,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.70, for a total value of $549,400.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 114,642 shares in the company, valued at $31,492,157.40. This trade represents a 1.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last quarter, insiders sold 31,386 shares of company stock valued at $8,461,716. Company insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE UNP opened at $264.04 on Wednesday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $252.13 and a 200-day simple moving average of $239.78. The company has a current ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53. The stock has a market cap of $156.76 billion, a PE ratio of 21.75, a P/E/G ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.99. Union Pacific Corporation has a twelve month low of $210.84 and a twelve month high of $274.79.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.93 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.86 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $6.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.12 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 29.20% and a return on equity of 39.58%. Union Pacific’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.70 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.53 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 27th were issued a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 27th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 45.47%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on UNP shares. Sanford C. Bernstein upped their price target on Union Pacific from $289.00 to $293.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 31st. Susquehanna reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Monday, January 19th. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $300.00 price objective (up from $260.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, April 24th. UBS Group reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $274.00 price target (up from $253.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. Finally, Citigroup reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $307.00 price objective (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $279.55.

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.