Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC Acquires 108,333 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 39.3% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 384,313 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 108,333 shares during the quarter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $88,899,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Midwest Trust Co lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 2.8% during the 3rd quarter. Midwest Trust Co now owns 281,036 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $66,428,000 after acquiring an additional 7,759 shares during the period. Alps Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 33.3% during the 3rd quarter. Alps Advisors Inc. now owns 36,819 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $8,703,000 after acquiring an additional 9,207 shares during the last quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 8.2% in the third quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 842,206 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $199,072,000 after acquiring an additional 63,523 shares during the period. Magellan Asset Management Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the third quarter valued at approximately $69,343,000. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1,581.2% during the third quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. now owns 232,000 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $54,838,000 after purchasing an additional 218,200 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Union Pacific news, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 2,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 $31,492,157.40. This represents a 1.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the 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 approximately $11,353,447.52. This trade represents a 6.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 34,377 shares of company stock worth $9,251,221. Company insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of Union Pacific stock opened at $272.28 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $161.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.43, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.97. 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 stock’s fifty day moving average is $259.32 and its 200 day moving average is $247.21. Union Pacific Corporation has a one year low of $210.84 and a one year high of $279.70.

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 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 during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.12 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.70 earnings per share. Union Pacific’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.53 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, May 29th will be issued a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 29th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 45.47%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UNP has been the topic of several research reports. 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. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $300.00 price target (up from $260.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. BMO Capital Markets restated a “market perform” rating and issued a $285.00 price target (up from $278.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, April 24th. UBS Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $274.00 price objective (up from $253.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. Finally, Citigroup reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $307.00 price objective (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $282.21.

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.