Foyston Gordon & Payne Inc Makes New Investment in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Foyston Gordon & Payne Inc bought a new stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 47,043 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $12,796,000. Union Pacific comprises approximately 2.7% of Foyston Gordon & Payne Inc’s portfolio, making the stock its 12th largest holding.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Commerce Bank bought a new stake in Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $140,904,000. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. bought a new position in Union Pacific in the 2nd quarter valued at $76,279,000. CFO4Life Group LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the second quarter worth $766,000. Martin & Co. Inc. TN bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the second quarter worth $1,224,000. Finally, WealthShield Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the second quarter worth $2,052,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on UNP shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $304.00 to $334.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, July 24th. TD Cowen restated a “buy” rating and issued a $325.00 price objective (up from $282.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, July 24th. UBS Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $310.00 target price (up from $286.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, July 24th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated a “market perform” rating and set a $320.00 target price (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group set a $317.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $320.89.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In related news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total transaction of $789,504.36. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 43,012 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $11,353,447.52. The trade was a 6.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.22% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Union Pacific Trading Up 1.3%

Shares of NYSE UNP opened at $307.97 on Friday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $286.30 and its 200 day simple moving average is $267.60. Union Pacific Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $210.84 and a fifty-two week high of $315.99. The firm has a market capitalization of $182.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.94, a P/E/G ratio of 3.14 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.82.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 EPS 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 business’s quarterly revenue was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $3.03 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.93 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 31st will be given a $1.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 31st. This represents a $5.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.8%. This is an increase from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is 44.70%.

About Union Pacific

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.