Aberdeen Group plc Has $184.83 Million Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Aberdeen Group plc lowered its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 1.7% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 782,594 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 13,753 shares during the quarter. Aberdeen Group plc owned about 0.13% of Union Pacific worth $184,833,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UNP has been the subject of several research reports. BMO Capital Markets set a $255.00 target price on Union Pacific in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $245.00 price objective on Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Citigroup reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $270.00 target price (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Susquehanna reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Monday, January 19th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “neutral” rating and set a $267.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $258.32.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.5%

UNP stock opened at $260.55 on Friday. Union Pacific Corporation has a one year low of $204.66 and a one year high of $265.37. The company has a market capitalization of $154.61 billion, a PE ratio of 21.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 0.98. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $236.44 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $228.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.91.

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 net margin of 29.12% and a return on equity of 40.89%. The company had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.15 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.91 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be issued a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 46.12%.

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.