Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. Takes Position in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. acquired a new stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 13,074 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $3,556,000.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Magellan Asset Management Ltd bought a new position in Union Pacific during the second quarter worth about $68,400,000. Elefante Mark B bought a new position in Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at approximately $408,000. Berry Wealth Group LP bought a new position in Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at approximately $211,000. Haverford Trust Co acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at approximately $18,833,000. Finally, Clear Harbor Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at approximately $6,296,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UNP has been the subject of several research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $317.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Evercore reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $294.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, June 25th. Stephens raised shares of Union Pacific to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. Citizens Jmp assumed coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $350.00 target price for the company. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $339.00 price target (up from $289.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $320.89.

Union Pacific Trading Up 0.6%

NYSE:UNP opened at $309.83 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $184.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.14 and a beta of 0.96. Union Pacific Corporation has a twelve month low of $210.84 and a twelve month high of $315.99. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $287.14 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $268.31. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40.

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

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Investors 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 yield of 1.8%. This is an increase from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 31st. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 45.99%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total value of $789,504.36. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 43,012 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,353,447.52. The trade was a 6.50% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

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.