Avanza Fonder AB Makes New $1.45 Million Investment in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Avanza Fonder AB purchased a new position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 6,266 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $1,449,000.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Acadian Asset Management LLC boosted its position in Union Pacific by 40.4% during the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 2,312 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $546,000 after acquiring an additional 665 shares during the last quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 20,606 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $4,741,000 after purchasing an additional 102 shares during the period. Magnetar Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 2nd quarter valued at about $208,000. Waterloo Capital L.P. bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter valued at about $284,000. Finally, Global Retirement Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter valued at about $5,010,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on UNP shares. Robert W. Baird set a $311.00 target price on Union Pacific and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, March 6th. Raymond James Financial restated a “strong-buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research note on Friday, February 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $265.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Citigroup reissued a “buy” rating and set a $270.00 target price (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $264.86.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.6%

Shares of NYSE:UNP opened at $239.69 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a current ratio of 0.91. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $268.14. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $247.70 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $234.69. The firm has a market cap of $142.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.02, a PEG ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 0.95.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.92 by ($0.06). Union Pacific had a net margin of 29.12% and a return on equity of 40.89%. The firm had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.15 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.91 EPS. The company’s revenue was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts forecast 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. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be issued a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.3%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 46.12%.

Union Pacific 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.