Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt Buys 6,750 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 146.5% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 11,359 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 6,750 shares during the quarter. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $3,087,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of UNP. Cambient Family Office LLC bought a new stake in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at $1,319,000. First National Bank of Omaha lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 35.8% in the 4th quarter. First National Bank of Omaha now owns 54,635 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $12,665,000 after buying an additional 14,399 shares during the last quarter. North Dakota State Investment Board acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at about $4,746,000. Sage Investment Advisers LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at about $997,000. Finally, Truist Financial Corp grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 3.1% during the 4th quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 1,016,071 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $235,038,000 after buying an additional 30,079 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Union Pacific this week:

• Positive Sentiment: New analyst coverage adds support: Erste Group Bank AG initiated coverage of Union Pacific with a “buy” rating, signaling confidence in the railroad’s valuation and outlook. Erste Group Bank coverage
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend and earnings backdrop remains favorable: Union Pacific is being highlighted as a dividend-growth railroad, and recent quarterly results showed earnings and revenue above analyst expectations, with revenue up year over year. These factors reinforce the company’s appeal to income and quality-focused investors. Dividend-paying railroad stocks
• Neutral Sentiment: Merger application advances: Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern submitted expanded customer protections to the Surface Transportation Board, including broader eligibility for committed gateway pricing. The proposed terms could improve the prospects for approval of the first single-line transcontinental railroad network, although the transaction remains subject to a lengthy regulatory review. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern merger protections
• Neutral Sentiment: Management will address investors: CEO Jim Vena and CFO Jennifer Hamann are scheduled to participate in a Bernstein Research fireside chat on September 1. Investors may look for updates on merger strategy, rail efficiency and operating trends. Union Pacific Bernstein fireside chat
• Negative Sentiment: Regulatory and efficiency risks remain: The companies continue defending the merger against opponents’ challenges, while new analysis describes Union Pacific as facing a fresh test of rail efficiency. Any tougher STB scrutiny or evidence of operational weaknesses could temper merger-driven optimism. Merger application regulatory review

Analyst Ratings Changes

UNP has been the topic of several research reports. Erste Group Bank began coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday. They set a “buy” rating on the stock. Barclays restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $350.00 target price (up from $315.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Union Pacific from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research report on Friday, July 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $317.00 price target on Union Pacific and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Finally, Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on Union Pacific from $311.00 to $344.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $320.89.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.0%

UNP stock opened at $307.82 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $182.87 billion, a PE ratio of 24.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.12 and a beta of 0.96. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $291.07 and its 200 day simple moving average is $269.81. Union Pacific Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $210.84 and a fifty-two week high of $315.99. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.26 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.85% and a return on equity of 38.46%. The firm had revenue of $6.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.72 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $3.03 EPS. Union Pacific’s revenue was up 11.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 13.01 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Monday, August 31st will be issued a $1.42 dividend. 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. This represents a $5.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.8%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 44.70%.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In related news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total value of $789,504.36. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 43,012 shares in the company, valued at $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 available through this hyperlink. 0.22% of the stock is owned by company 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.