Rakuten Investment Management Inc. Boosts Stake in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Rakuten Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 10.3% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 97,106 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 9,052 shares during the period. Rakuten Investment Management Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $26,481,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Acadian Asset Management LLC grew its position in Union Pacific by 40.4% during the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 2,312 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $546,000 after buying an additional 665 shares during the period. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 20,606 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $4,741,000 after acquiring an additional 102 shares during the period. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.6% during the 2nd quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC now owns 3,733 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $859,000 after acquiring an additional 58 shares during the period. HUB Investment Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 10.0% during the 2nd quarter. HUB Investment Partners LLC now owns 6,091 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,401,000 after acquiring an additional 554 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Alliancebernstein L.P. boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 7.4% during the 2nd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 1,528,426 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $351,660,000 after acquiring an additional 105,664 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Key Union Pacific News

Here are the key news stories impacting Union Pacific this week:

• Positive Sentiment: New analyst coverage adds support: Erste Group Bank AG initiated coverage of Union Pacific with a “buy” rating, signaling confidence in the railroad’s valuation and outlook. Erste Group Bank coverage
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend and earnings backdrop remains favorable: Union Pacific is being highlighted as a dividend-growth railroad, and recent quarterly results showed earnings and revenue above analyst expectations, with revenue up year over year. These factors reinforce the company’s appeal to income and quality-focused investors. Dividend-paying railroad stocks
• Neutral Sentiment: Merger application advances: Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern submitted expanded customer protections to the Surface Transportation Board, including broader eligibility for committed gateway pricing. The proposed terms could improve the prospects for approval of the first single-line transcontinental railroad network, although the transaction remains subject to a lengthy regulatory review. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern merger protections
• Neutral Sentiment: Management will address investors: CEO Jim Vena and CFO Jennifer Hamann are scheduled to participate in a Bernstein Research fireside chat on September 1. Investors may look for updates on merger strategy, rail efficiency and operating trends. Union Pacific Bernstein fireside chat
• Negative Sentiment: Regulatory and efficiency risks remain: The companies continue defending the merger against opponents’ challenges, while new analysis describes Union Pacific as facing a fresh test of rail efficiency. Any tougher STB scrutiny or evidence of operational weaknesses could temper merger-driven optimism. Merger application regulatory review

Union Pacific Trading Up 0.0%

Shares of Union Pacific stock opened at $307.82 on Friday. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1 year low of $210.84 and a 1 year high of $315.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.82. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $291.07 and a 200 day moving average price of $269.81. The company has a market capitalization of $182.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.92, a P/E/G ratio of 3.12 and a beta of 0.96.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.26 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 38.46% and a net margin of 28.85%.The company 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 business posted $3.03 earnings per share. Union Pacific’s revenue was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 13.01 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Monday, August 31st will be paid a $1.42 dividend. This represents a $5.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 31st. This is a positive change from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 44.70%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently weighed in on UNP. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $339.00 price objective (up from $289.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, July 24th. Raymond James Financial reissued a “strong-buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Monday, July 13th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Union Pacific from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Barclays reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $350.00 price target (up from $315.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Finally, Evercore reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $294.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, June 25th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $320.89.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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

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.