Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec Purchases Shares of 62,793 Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 62,793 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $17,080,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Tucker Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. SWAN Capital LLC boosted its position in Union Pacific by 2,575.0% in the fourth quarter. SWAN Capital LLC now owns 107 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. Scarborough Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the first quarter valued at about $27,000. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC bought a new stake in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Finally, Merkkuri Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Union Pacific during the first quarter worth about $29,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $311.00 to $344.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, July 27th. UBS Group restated a “neutral” rating and set a $310.00 price target (up from $286.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, July 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $317.00 price target on Union Pacific and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Citizens Jmp initiated coverage on Union Pacific in a research report on Wednesday, July 15th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $350.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Bank of America lifted their price objective on Union Pacific from $301.00 to $334.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $320.89.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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 value 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 document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.22% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.0%

Shares of NYSE:UNP opened at $307.82 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. The firm has a market cap of $182.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.92, a P/E/G ratio of 3.12 and a beta of 0.96. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12 month low of $210.84 and a 12 month high of $315.99. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $291.07 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $269.81.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.26 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.85% and a return on equity of 38.46%. The company had revenue of $6.86 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.72 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $3.03 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 11.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 13.01 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Monday, August 31st will be issued a $1.42 dividend. This is an increase from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. 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. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 44.70%.

Key Union Pacific News

Here are the key news stories impacting Union Pacific this week:

• Positive Sentiment: New analyst coverage adds support: Erste Group Bank AG initiated coverage of Union Pacific with a “buy” rating, signaling confidence in the railroad’s valuation and outlook. Erste Group Bank coverage
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend and earnings backdrop remains favorable: Union Pacific is being highlighted as a dividend-growth railroad, and recent quarterly results showed earnings and revenue above analyst expectations, with revenue up year over year. These factors reinforce the company’s appeal to income and quality-focused investors. Dividend-paying railroad stocks
• Neutral Sentiment: Merger application advances: Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern submitted expanded customer protections to the Surface Transportation Board, including broader eligibility for committed gateway pricing. The proposed terms could improve the prospects for approval of the first single-line transcontinental railroad network, although the transaction remains subject to a lengthy regulatory review. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern merger protections
• Neutral Sentiment: Management will address investors: CEO Jim Vena and CFO Jennifer Hamann are scheduled to participate in a Bernstein Research fireside chat on September 1. Investors may look for updates on merger strategy, rail efficiency and operating trends. Union Pacific Bernstein fireside chat
• Negative Sentiment: Regulatory and efficiency risks remain: The companies continue defending the merger against opponents’ challenges, while new analysis describes Union Pacific as facing a fresh test of rail efficiency. Any tougher STB scrutiny or evidence of operational weaknesses could temper merger-driven optimism. Merger application regulatory review

Union Pacific 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.