Sanctuary Advisors LLC Acquires Shares of 109,273 Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Sanctuary Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 109,273 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $29,722,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Barbara Oil Co. bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter valued at $4,080,000. Solstein Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the second quarter worth about $546,000. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. bought a new position in Union Pacific in the 2nd quarter valued at about $262,513,000. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $3,556,000. Finally, Magellan Asset Management Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $68,400,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In other news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated 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 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 legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE:UNP opened at $307.97 on Monday. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $286.30 and its 200-day moving average is $267.83. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1-year low of $210.84 and a 1-year high of $315.99. The company has a current ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. The stock has a market cap of $182.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.14 and a beta of 0.96.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 EPS for the quarter, topping 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 for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.72 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.03 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 31st will be given a $1.42 dividend. This is a boost from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 31st. This represents a $5.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.8%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 44.70%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. TD Cowen reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $325.00 price objective (up from $282.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Citizens Jmp assumed coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $350.00 price target for the company. Evercore restated an “outperform” rating and set a $294.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, June 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $317.00 target price on Union Pacific and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $339.00 target price (up from $289.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, July 24th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $320.89.

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.