Global Retirement Partners LLC Takes $8.08 Million Position in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Global Retirement Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor purchased 29,706 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $8,080,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.1% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 59,329,262 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $13,724,045,000 after buying an additional 659,378 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 4.3% in the fourth quarter. State Street Corp now owns 26,330,080 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $6,090,674,000 after acquiring an additional 1,082,285 shares in the last quarter. Capital World Investors grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 92.1% in the fourth quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 20,136,349 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $4,658,142,000 after acquiring an additional 9,655,306 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 2.0% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 15,360,668 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $3,552,550,000 after acquiring an additional 296,814 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 16.8% during the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 14,463,071 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $3,509,030,000 after acquiring an additional 2,084,808 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have weighed in on UNP shares. Citigroup boosted their price objective on Union Pacific from $326.00 to $349.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Bank of America raised their target price on Union Pacific from $301.00 to $334.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Weiss Ratings upgraded Union Pacific from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. BMO Capital Markets reissued 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. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada restated an “outperform” rating and set a $339.00 price target (up from $289.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $320.89.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In related news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the firm’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 directly owned 43,012 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $11,353,447.52. This trade represents a 6.50% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.3%

Shares of Union Pacific stock opened at $299.10 on Wednesday. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52-week low of $210.84 and a 52-week high of $315.99. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $284.18 and its 200 day simple moving average is $266.34. The stock has a market capitalization of $177.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.22, a P/E/G ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.99.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued 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. The firm had revenue of $6.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.72 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.85% and a return on equity of 38.46%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 11.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $3.03 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.93 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Monday, August 31st will be paid a dividend of $1.42 per share. This represents a $5.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 31st. This is an increase from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 44.70%.

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.