Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Acquires Shares of 4,024,549 Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board acquired a new position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 4,024,549 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $1,094,677,000.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of UNP. Tiemann Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.7% in the 2nd quarter. Tiemann Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,117 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $576,000 after buying an additional 35 shares during the period. TFR Capital LLC. increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 3.8% during the second quarter. TFR Capital LLC. now owns 979 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $266,000 after buying an additional 36 shares during the period. Key Financial Inc increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 2.1% during the first quarter. Key Financial Inc now owns 1,821 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $442,000 after buying an additional 38 shares during the period. Members Trust Co raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 2.5% in the first quarter. Members Trust Co now owns 1,573 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $382,000 after acquiring an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Finally, EJMK Ventures LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 4.0% in the first quarter. EJMK Ventures LLC now owns 1,016 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $247,000 after acquiring an additional 39 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP stock opened at $310.11 on Wednesday. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1-year low of $210.84 and a 1-year high of $315.99. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $287.99 and its 200 day moving average is $268.73. The company has a market cap of $184.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.11, a PEG ratio of 3.16 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.82.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.26 by $0.15. The company had revenue of $6.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.72 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 38.46% and a net margin of 28.85%.The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $3.03 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 31st will be given a $1.42 dividend. This represents a $5.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 31st. This is an increase from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is presently 44.70%.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total transaction of $789,504.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 43,012 shares in the company, valued at $11,353,447.52. The trade was a 6.50% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.22% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have issued reports on UNP. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $326.00 to $349.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, July 24th. BMO Capital Markets restated a “market perform” rating and issued a $320.00 price target (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, July 24th. Citizens Jmp started coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Wednesday, July 15th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $350.00 price target for the company. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $339.00 price objective (up from $289.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Finally, Susquehanna lifted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $305.00 to $333.00 and gave the company a “positive” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 14th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $320.89.

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.