Union Pacific Corporation $UNP Shares Sold by Swiss National Bank

Swiss National Bank lowered its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 5.6% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 1,625,400 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 96,900 shares during the quarter. Swiss National Bank’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $375,988,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Public Sector Pension Investment Board lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 8.2% in the third quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 842,206 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $199,072,000 after acquiring an additional 63,523 shares during the period. Magellan Asset Management Ltd acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the third quarter valued at $69,343,000. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 1,581.2% in the third quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. now owns 232,000 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $54,838,000 after acquiring an additional 218,200 shares during the period. Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Co lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 30.1% in the third quarter. Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Co now owns 105,049 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $24,830,000 after acquiring an additional 24,300 shares during the period. Finally, State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.7% in the third quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D now owns 208,469 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $49,276,000 after acquiring an additional 5,572 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have commented on UNP. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $289.00 target price (up from $273.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. TD Cowen raised their price target on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $282.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, April 24th. Barclays restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $315.00 price target (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. Citigroup restated a “buy” rating and issued a $307.00 price target (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $300.00 price target (up from $260.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $282.21.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total transaction of $789,504.36. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 43,012 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,353,447.52. This trade represents a 6.50% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 2,000 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.70, for a total value of $549,400.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 114,642 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $31,492,157.40. This represents a 1.71% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last quarter, insiders sold 34,377 shares of company stock worth $9,251,221. 0.22% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Union Pacific Trading Up 0.6%

Shares of UNP stock opened at $268.50 on Friday. Union Pacific Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $210.84 and a fifty-two week high of $279.70. The stock has a market cap of $159.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.12, a P/E/G ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 0.97. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $261.64 and a 200-day simple moving average of $248.52. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53.

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

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, May 29th will be given a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 29th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 45.47%.

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.