Legal & General Group Plc Invests $1.19 Billion in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Legal & General Group Plc acquired a new stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNPFree Report) during the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm acquired 4,386,525 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $1,193,135,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Rachor Investment Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. Tucker Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. SWAN Capital LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 2,575.0% during the 4th quarter. SWAN Capital LLC now owns 107 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. High Point Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Finally, Cornerstone Financial Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In other news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total transaction of $789,504.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 43,012 shares in the company, valued at $11,353,447.52. This trade represents a 6.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UNP has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Barclays reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $350.00 price objective (up from $315.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Benchmark raised their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $325.00 to $335.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, July 24th. Evercore reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $294.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday, June 25th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a report on Friday, July 24th. Finally, Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $311.00 to $344.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $320.89.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on UNP

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNP opened at $309.83 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. Union Pacific Corporation has a twelve month low of $210.84 and a twelve month high of $315.99. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $287.14 and its 200-day moving average is $268.31. The firm has a market capitalization of $184.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.09, a PEG ratio of 3.14 and a beta of 0.96.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNPGet Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.26 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.85% and a return on equity of 38.46%. The business had revenue of $6.86 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.72 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $3.03 EPS. Union Pacific’s revenue was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.93 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 31st will be paid a $1.42 dividend. This represents a $5.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.8%. This is a positive change from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 31st. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 45.99%.

Union Pacific Profile

(Free Report)

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.

See Also

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Institutional Ownership by Quarter for Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP)

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