Trust Co. of Vermont Acquires 3,432 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Trust Co. of Vermont boosted its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 3.6% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 99,530 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 3,432 shares during the period. Union Pacific comprises about 1.0% of Trust Co. of Vermont’s portfolio, making the stock its 23rd largest holding. Trust Co. of Vermont’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $23,526,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,856,340,000. Fisher Asset Management LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 0.7% during the second quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 6,398,715 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,472,217,000 after buying an additional 46,436 shares during the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada raised its stake in Union Pacific by 1.7% in the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 5,105,784 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,206,191,000 after buying an additional 86,292 shares during the period. Amundi increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 35.6% during the 2nd quarter. Amundi now owns 4,782,577 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,134,236,000 after acquiring an additional 1,255,231 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 10.8% during the 1st quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 4,626,200 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,092,893,000 after purchasing an additional 452,788 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

UNP opened at $234.66 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.75, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.75. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $256.84. The firm has a market cap of $139.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.99. The business’s fifty day moving average is $227.02 and its 200-day moving average is $226.45.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.08 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.99 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $6.24 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.24 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.73% and a return on equity of 42.23%. Union Pacific’s revenue was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.75 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Investors of record on Friday, December 5th will be given a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 5th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 46.90%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently commented on the stock. Susquehanna reaffirmed a “positive” rating and set a $272.00 target price (up previously from $257.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, September 25th. Barclays restated an “overweight” rating and set a $285.00 price objective (up from $270.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. UBS Group set a $253.00 target price on Union Pacific and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, October 3rd. Loop Capital upgraded Union Pacific from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating and boosted their price target for the company from $214.00 to $227.00 in a research note on Tuesday, September 16th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group set a $263.00 price objective on Union Pacific and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have given a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $260.33.

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.