Westpac Banking Corp Increases Position in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Westpac Banking Corp boosted its position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 7,516.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 39,912 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 39,388 shares during the period. Westpac Banking Corp’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $9,434,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at $1,856,340,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 22,618.2% in the 2nd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,624,636 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $603,876,000 after buying an additional 2,613,083 shares during the last quarter. Amundi grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 35.6% in the 2nd quarter. Amundi now owns 4,782,577 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,134,236,000 after buying an additional 1,255,231 shares during the period. Rothschild & Co Wealth Management UK Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 3,536.2% during the 2nd quarter. Rothschild & Co Wealth Management UK Ltd now owns 1,011,677 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $232,767,000 after acquiring an additional 983,855 shares during the period. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 32.8% during the 2nd quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 3,152,042 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $725,222,000 after acquiring an additional 778,411 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently commented on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $265.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $280.00 price target on Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday, December 18th. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Union Pacific from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research report on Friday, February 6th. TD Cowen decreased their price target on shares of 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, Susquehanna reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Monday, January 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $260.14.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP stock opened at $264.53 on Thursday. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12 month low of $204.66 and a 12 month high of $267.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.75. The firm has a market capitalization of $156.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.10, a P/E/G ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 0.98. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $240.85 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $230.93.

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

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be paid a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is 46.12%.

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.