Ruffer LLP Acquires New Position in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Ruffer LLP acquired a new stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 133,430 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $30,913,000. Union Pacific comprises about 1.4% of Ruffer LLP’s portfolio, making the stock its 23rd biggest holding.

A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Capital World Investors increased its stake in Union Pacific by 193.3% in the third quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 10,481,043 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,477,404,000 after acquiring an additional 6,908,016 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 72.7% in the third 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 last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 95.0% during the third quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 8,713,196 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,059,538,000 after buying an additional 4,244,226 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 18.9% during the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 7,164,334 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,693,434,000 after buying an additional 1,139,926 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 3.2% during the third quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 6,881,628 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,626,610,000 after buying an additional 210,184 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 1,999 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction on Friday, March 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $234.93, for a total value of $469,625.07. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

UNP stock opened at $251.56 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $149.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.02, a PEG ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a quick ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12-month low of $206.63 and a 12-month high of $268.14. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $251.66 and its 200 day simple moving average is $237.75.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.92 by ($0.06). Union Pacific had a net margin of 29.12% and a return on equity of 40.89%. The company had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.15 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.91 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down .6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.42 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th were paid a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 27th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 46.12%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have weighed in on UNP shares. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Union Pacific from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Benchmark reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $275.00 target price (up from $260.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 7th. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed a “strong-buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Wednesday, April 15th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $265.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $267.48.

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.