Bank of Nova Scotia Decreases Holdings in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Bank of Nova Scotia decreased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 71.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 75,034 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 191,647 shares during the period. Bank of Nova Scotia’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $17,736,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Capital World Investors grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 193.3% during the 3rd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 10,481,043 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,477,404,000 after acquiring an additional 6,908,016 shares during the period. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 72.7% in the 3rd quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 9,177,002 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,169,168,000 after purchasing an additional 3,861,636 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 95.0% in the 3rd quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 8,713,196 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,059,538,000 after purchasing an additional 4,244,226 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at approximately $1,856,340,000. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 18.9% in the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 7,164,334 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,693,434,000 after purchasing an additional 1,139,926 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UNP has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Susquehanna reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Monday, January 19th. Robert W. Baird set a $311.00 price target on Union Pacific and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, March 6th. Barclays reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $285.00 price target (up from $270.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $280.00 price objective on Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, December 18th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets restated a “market perform” rating and issued a $295.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $263.77.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.1%

NYSE:UNP opened at $242.27 on Tuesday. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1 year low of $204.66 and a 1 year high of $268.14. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $246.68 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $234.04. 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 company has a market cap of $143.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.24, a P/E/G ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.95.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly 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 company had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.15 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.91 earnings per share. Union Pacific’s revenue for the quarter was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be issued a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is presently 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.