Jennison Associates LLC Raises Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Jennison Associates LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 16.6% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 808,441 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 115,192 shares during the period. Jennison Associates LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $219,896,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of UNP. Capital World Investors grew 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 worth $4,658,142,000 after buying an additional 9,655,306 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at $1,779,907,000. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 72.7% during the 3rd quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 9,177,002 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,169,168,000 after buying an additional 3,861,636 shares in the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 26.0% during the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,980,904 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,540,105,000 after acquiring an additional 2,267,708 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 16.8% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 14,463,071 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $3,509,030,000 after acquiring an additional 2,084,808 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE:UNP opened at $293.57 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.99. Union Pacific Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $210.84 and a fifty-two week high of $315.99. The firm has a market cap of $174.40 billion, a PE ratio of 23.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.04 and a beta of 0.96. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $283.00 and a 200-day moving average price of $265.13.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 EPS 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 company had revenue of $6.86 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.72 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $3.03 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.5% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 31st will be issued a $1.42 dividend. This is a boost from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 31st. This represents a $5.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.9%. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 44.70%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently issued reports on UNP shares. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research report on Friday, July 24th. TD Cowen restated a “buy” rating and set a $325.00 price target (up from $282.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Bank of America lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $301.00 to $334.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. BMO Capital Markets reiterated a “market perform” rating and issued a $320.00 price objective (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, July 24th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Union Pacific from $304.00 to $334.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $320.89.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the business’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 owned 43,012 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,353,447.52. The trade was a 6.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.22% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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.