Associated Banc Corp Acquires 4,022 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Associated Banc Corp increased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 4.5% in the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 93,760 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 4,022 shares during the period. Associated Banc Corp’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $22,748,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Cambient Family Office LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth about $1,319,000. North Dakota State Investment Board bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $4,746,000. First National Bank of Omaha lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 35.8% during the 4th quarter. First National Bank of Omaha now owns 54,635 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $12,665,000 after acquiring an additional 14,399 shares during the last quarter. Avanza Fonder AB purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at $1,449,000. Finally, Sage Investment Advisers LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $997,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Key Union Pacific News

Here are the key news stories impacting Union Pacific this week:

• Positive Sentiment: JPMorgan raised its price target on Union Pacific to $304 from $275, implying additional upside from current levels, while keeping a neutral rating. Article: Union Pacific price target raised by JPMorgan Chase & Co.
• Positive Sentiment: Stephens upgraded Union Pacific to strong-buy, signaling confidence in the railroad’s earnings outlook and valuation momentum. Article: Union Pacific was upgraded by Stephens
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage around Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern’s proposed merger continues to advance, with both companies filing responses as the regulatory review moves forward. Investors may see the deal as a potential long-term strategic catalyst if approved. Article: Norfolk Southern (NSC) Files Merger Response With Union Pacific As STB Review Advances
• Neutral Sentiment: Commentary on the proposed rail merger from Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern CEOs highlights the scale of the strategic opportunity, but also underscores that the deal remains subject to significant regulatory scrutiny. Article: EXCLUSIVE: Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern CEOs talk about the rail merger
• Neutral Sentiment: Seeking Alpha published a downgrade saying buying Union Pacific now may be “too late,” which adds a cautionary note but does not appear to outweigh the bullish analyst actions. Article: Union Pacific: Buying Now Feels Too Late (Rating Downgrade)

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 2,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $274.70, for a total value of $549,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 114,642 shares in the company, valued at approximately $31,492,157.40. The trade was a 1.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Kenyatta G. Rocker sold 27,387 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $271.76, for a total transaction of $7,442,691.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 61,102 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $16,605,079.52. This represents a 30.95% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 32,378 shares of company stock worth $8,781,595 over the last quarter. Insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have weighed in on UNP shares. Benchmark increased their target price on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, April 24th. Evercore reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $294.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday, June 25th. TD Cowen upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $256.00 to $282.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, April 24th. Stephens upgraded shares of Union Pacific to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $289.00 price objective (up from $273.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $290.39.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.8%

NYSE:UNP traded up $2.23 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $287.27. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 1,876,184 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,394,006. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $269.23 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $253.94. 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 company has a market capitalization of $170.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.66, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.02 and a beta of 0.96. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12 month low of $210.84 and a 12 month high of $288.90.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.86 by $0.07. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 39.58% and a net margin of 29.20%.The business had revenue of $6.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.12 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.70 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.56 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, May 29th were given a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 29th. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.9%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 45.47%.

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.