Castlekeep Investment Advisors LLC Invests $1.17 Million in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Castlekeep Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 4,283 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $1,165,000. Union Pacific comprises about 0.6% of Castlekeep Investment Advisors LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest holding.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of UNP. State Street Corp boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 4.3% during the fourth quarter. State Street Corp now owns 26,330,080 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $6,090,674,000 after acquiring an additional 1,082,285 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors raised its stake in Union Pacific by 92.1% in the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 20,136,349 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $4,658,142,000 after purchasing an additional 9,655,306 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 15,360,668 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $3,552,550,000 after purchasing an additional 296,814 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 16.8% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 14,463,071 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $3,509,030,000 after purchasing an additional 2,084,808 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 5.0% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 12,636,050 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,922,971,000 after purchasing an additional 602,647 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.1%

UNP opened at $310.11 on Wednesday. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12 month low of $210.84 and a 12 month high of $315.99. The business has a 50-day moving average of $287.99 and a two-hundred day moving average of $268.73. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $184.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.16 and a beta of 0.96.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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 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 analyst estimates of $6.72 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $3.03 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 11.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect 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. Investors of record on Monday, August 31st will be given a dividend of $1.42 per share. This represents a $5.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.8%. This is a positive change from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 31st. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 44.70%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on UNP shares. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $311.00 to $344.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, July 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $317.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Citizens Jmp assumed coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Wednesday, July 15th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $350.00 target price on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $335.00 target price (up from $315.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Finally, Benchmark boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $325.00 to $335.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, July 24th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $320.89.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the 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 transaction, the executive vice president owned 43,012 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $11,353,447.52. This trade represents a 6.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.22% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Union Pacific Company Profile

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.