Ceredex Value Advisors LLC Makes New Investment in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Ceredex Value Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 186,291 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $44,034,000.

Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 9.8% in the third quarter. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA now owns 52,849 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $12,492,000 after buying an additional 4,707 shares in the last quarter. Midwest Trust Co lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter. Midwest Trust Co now owns 281,036 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $66,428,000 after purchasing an additional 7,759 shares during the period. CX Institutional lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 39.8% in the 3rd quarter. CX Institutional now owns 65,826 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $15,559,000 after purchasing an additional 18,742 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 15.1% during the third quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 135,188 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $31,955,000 after purchasing an additional 17,696 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AustralianSuper Pty Ltd purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the third quarter worth $802,000. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.4%

Shares of Union Pacific stock opened at $253.20 on Tuesday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $245.27 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $233.25. The stock has a market capitalization of $150.25 billion, a PE ratio of 21.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 0.95. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $268.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a current ratio of 0.91.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced 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). The firm had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.15 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 29.12% and a return on equity of 40.89%. Union Pacific’s revenue was down .6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.91 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 27th will be given a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.2%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.12%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have commented on UNP shares. Susquehanna reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Monday, January 19th. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $267.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. Citigroup reissued a “buy” rating and set a $270.00 price target (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Robert W. Baird set a $311.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, BMO Capital Markets restated a “market perform” rating and issued a $295.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, February 19th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $263.77.

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.