Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Increases Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans raised its position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 3.1% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 117,492 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 3,519 shares during the quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ holdings in Union Pacific were worth $27,134,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Ethos Financial Group LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific by 29.4% during the first quarter. Ethos Financial Group LLC now owns 1,320 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $304,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 18.7% in the first quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 5,611 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,325,000 after buying an additional 884 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 2.0% during the 1st quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 7,105,382 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,678,575,000 after buying an additional 142,732 shares in the last quarter. Aviso Financial Inc. grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 2.0% during the 1st quarter. Aviso Financial Inc. now owns 3,052 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $721,000 after acquiring an additional 61 shares during the period. Finally, Aptus Capital Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 429.7% during the 1st quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC now owns 95,110 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $22,469,000 after acquiring an additional 77,153 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.3%

UNP opened at $240.72 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $142.78 billion, a PE ratio of 20.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.66 and a beta of 0.99. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $226.45 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $225.94. The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.75. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $256.84.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.08 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.99 by $0.09. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 42.23% and a net margin of 28.73%.The firm had revenue of $6.24 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.24 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.75 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 5th will be issued a $1.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 5th. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.3%. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 46.90%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have commented on UNP shares. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $263.00 to $265.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, October 24th. Susquehanna reiterated a “positive” rating and issued a $272.00 price target (up previously from $257.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday, September 25th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $245.00 price objective on Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Loop Capital upgraded Union Pacific from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating and increased their target price for the stock from $214.00 to $227.00 in a research report on Tuesday, September 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating and twelve have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $259.54.

About Union Pacific

Union Pacific Corporation, through its subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad Company, operates in the railroad business in the United States. The company offers transportation services for grain and grain products, fertilizers, food and refrigerated products, and coal and renewables to grain processors, animal feeders, ethanol producers, renewable biofuel producers, and other agricultural users; and construction products, industrial chemicals, plastics, forest products, specialized products, metals and ores, petroleum, liquid petroleum gases, soda ash, and sand, as well as finished automobiles, automotive parts, and merchandise in intermodal containers.