Union Pacific Corporation $UNP Shares Bought by Bright Rock Capital Management LLC

Bright Rock Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 28.9% in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 53,500 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 12,000 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific accounts for about 2.5% of Bright Rock Capital Management LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 7th biggest holding. Bright Rock Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $12,309,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Northern Trust Corp lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.0% in the first quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 7,105,382 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,678,575,000 after purchasing an additional 142,732 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 5.4% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 6,949,345 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,641,715,000 after buying an additional 354,463 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 5,105,784 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,206,191,000 after buying an additional 86,292 shares during the period. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 10.8% during the 1st quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 4,626,200 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,092,893,000 after buying an additional 452,788 shares during the period. Finally, Nuveen LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 1st quarter valued at about $988,822,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UNP opened at $217.19 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.53. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $223.27 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $225.45. Union Pacific Corporation has a one year low of $204.66 and a one year high of $256.84. The firm has a market cap of $128.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.87, a P/E/G ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 1.03.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.84 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.73% and a net margin of 28.43%.The firm had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.09 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.74 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be issued a dividend of $1.38 per share. This is an increase from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.5%. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is currently 47.96%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UNP has been the subject of several recent research reports. Argus cut Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 12th. Susquehanna reduced their price objective on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $257.00 and set a “positive” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Robert W. Baird began coverage on Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $231.00 target price for the company. Baird R W upgraded Union Pacific to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. Finally, Evercore ISI dropped their price objective on Union Pacific from $244.00 to $238.00 and set an “in-line” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $259.38.

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.