Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. Acquires 7,502 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 44.0% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 24,548 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 7,502 shares during the quarter. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $5,797,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA raised its stake in Union Pacific by 9.8% during the 3rd quarter. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA now owns 52,849 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $12,492,000 after buying an additional 4,707 shares during the last quarter. Midwest Trust Co boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter. Midwest Trust Co now owns 281,036 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $66,428,000 after buying an additional 7,759 shares during the last quarter. CX Institutional boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 39.8% in the 3rd quarter. CX Institutional now owns 65,826 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $15,559,000 after buying an additional 18,742 shares during the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 15.1% in the third quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 135,188 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $31,955,000 after acquiring an additional 17,696 shares during the period. Finally, AustralianSuper Pty Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the third quarter worth $802,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have issued reports on the company. BMO Capital Markets reissued a “market perform” rating and issued a $295.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, February 19th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $280.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. Barclays reissued 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. Raymond James Financial restated a “strong-buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $265.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $263.77.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.1%

Shares of UNP stock opened at $242.27 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $143.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.24, a PEG ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.95. Union Pacific Corporation has a one year low of $204.66 and a one year high of $268.14. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $246.68 and its 200-day moving average price is $234.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.75.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.92 by ($0.06). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.89% and a net margin of 29.12%.The firm had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.15 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.91 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was down .6% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be paid a $1.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.3%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is 46.12%.

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.