Ascentis Independent Advisors Has $2.06 Million Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Ascentis Independent Advisors lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 70.2% during the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 8,493 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 3,503 shares during the quarter. Ascentis Independent Advisors’ holdings in Union Pacific were worth $2,061,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Capital World Investors lifted its stake in 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 buying an additional 9,655,306 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $1,779,907,000. Capital Research Global Investors lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 95.0% during the 3rd quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 8,713,196 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,059,538,000 after acquiring an additional 4,244,226 shares during the period. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 72.7% during 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 valued at $2,169,168,000 after acquiring an additional 3,861,636 shares during the period. Finally, EdgePoint Investment Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter valued at $408,592,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UNP opened at $282.52 on Tuesday. Union Pacific Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $210.84 and a fifty-two week high of $283.99. The stock has a market cap of $167.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.27, a PEG ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 0.92. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $267.68 and its 200 day simple moving average is $252.36.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.86 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $6.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.12 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 39.58% and a net margin of 29.20%.The company’s quarterly revenue was up 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.70 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, May 29th were given a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 29th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 45.47%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have commented on UNP shares. Benchmark raised their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, April 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $267.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, April 24th. UBS Group reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $274.00 price objective (up from $253.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. TD Cowen raised their target price on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $282.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, April 24th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $300.00 target price (up from $260.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, April 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $286.89.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In related news, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 2,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $274.70, for a total transaction of $549,400.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 114,642 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $31,492,157.40. This trade represents a 1.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total transaction of $789,504.36. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 43,012 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,353,447.52. This trade represents a 6.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last three months, insiders have sold 32,378 shares of company stock worth $8,781,595. Corporate insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

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.