Royal London Asset Management Ltd. Purchases 56,120 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Royal London Asset Management Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 12.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 500,634 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 56,120 shares during the period. Royal London Asset Management Ltd.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $115,807,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Public Sector Pension Investment Board raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 8.2% during the third quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 842,206 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $199,072,000 after purchasing an additional 63,523 shares during the last quarter. Magellan Asset Management Ltd purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the third quarter worth approximately $69,343,000. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. grew its position in Union Pacific by 1,581.2% in the 3rd quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. now owns 232,000 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $54,838,000 after purchasing an additional 218,200 shares during the period. North Dakota State Investment Board bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $4,746,000. Finally, State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D raised its stake in Union Pacific by 2.7% during the 3rd quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D now owns 208,469 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $49,276,000 after buying an additional 5,572 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Trading Up 1.5%

NYSE:UNP opened at $272.37 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53, a current ratio of 0.92 and a quick ratio of 0.73. The firm has a market capitalization of $161.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 0.97. Union Pacific Corporation has a one year low of $210.84 and a one year high of $279.70. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $262.23 and a 200-day moving average price of $248.69.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.93 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.86 by $0.07. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 39.58% and a net margin of 29.20%.The business had revenue of $6.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.12 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.70 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.55 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, May 29th will be issued a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 29th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 45.47%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on UNP shares. Sanford C. Bernstein raised their price target on Union Pacific from $289.00 to $293.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 31st. Susquehanna reiterated a “positive” rating and set a $305.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, June 5th. Benchmark increased their target price on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $300.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, April 24th. Evercore reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $277.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. Finally, TD Cowen boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $282.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, April 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have issued a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $282.21.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total transaction of $789,504.36. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 43,012 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,353,447.52. This trade represents a 6.50% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 2,000 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction on Friday, April 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $274.70, for a total transaction of $549,400.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 114,642 shares in the company, valued at approximately $31,492,157.40. This trade represents a 1.71% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 34,377 shares of company stock worth $9,251,221. Company 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.