Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC Boosts Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 88.2% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 357,828 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 167,725 shares during the quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $82,984,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 9.8% in the third quarter. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA now owns 52,849 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $12,492,000 after purchasing an additional 4,707 shares during the last quarter. Midwest Trust Co increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 2.8% during the third quarter. Midwest Trust Co now owns 281,036 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $66,428,000 after buying an additional 7,759 shares during the period. CX Institutional boosted its position in Union Pacific by 39.8% during the 3rd quarter. CX Institutional now owns 65,826 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $15,559,000 after acquiring an additional 18,742 shares in the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans boosted its position in Union Pacific by 15.1% during the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 135,188 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $31,955,000 after acquiring an additional 17,696 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bessemer Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 29.6% during the 3rd quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 653,589 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $154,488,000 after buying an additional 149,158 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Up 1.4%

UNP opened at $242.55 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $143.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 0.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a current ratio of 0.91. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $248.96 and its 200 day moving average is $235.56. Union Pacific Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $204.66 and a fifty-two week high of $268.14.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.92 by ($0.06). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.89% and a net margin of 29.12%.The business had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.15 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.91 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was down .6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 27th were paid a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 27th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 46.12%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages recently issued reports on UNP. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $267.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. BMO Capital Markets restated a “market perform” rating and set a $295.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. Citigroup reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $270.00 price target (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Robert W. Baird set a $311.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, March 6th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein increased their price target on Union Pacific from $289.00 to $293.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $265.18.

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.