Union Pacific Corporation $UNP Shares Sold by Assenagon Asset Management S.A.

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. decreased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 91.8% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 131,680 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 1,468,063 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $30,460,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 9.8% in the 3rd quarter. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA now owns 52,849 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $12,492,000 after buying an additional 4,707 shares during the last quarter. Midwest Trust Co grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter. Midwest Trust Co now owns 281,036 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $66,428,000 after buying an additional 7,759 shares during the period. CX Institutional increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 39.8% during the 3rd quarter. CX Institutional now owns 65,826 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $15,559,000 after acquiring an additional 18,742 shares during the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 15.1% during the 3rd 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 purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter worth about $802,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.9%

UNP opened at $241.77 on Thursday. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $247.99 and a 200 day moving average price of $234.74. The company has a market cap of $143.46 billion, a PE ratio of 20.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 0.95. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1 year low of $204.66 and a 1 year high of $268.14. 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 (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.92 by ($0.06). Union Pacific had a net margin of 29.12% and a return on equity of 40.89%. The business had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.15 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.91 earnings per share. 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 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced 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. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 46.12%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on UNP shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $265.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Citigroup reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $270.00 price target (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $280.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, December 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $267.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. Finally, Robert W. Baird set a $311.00 target price on Union Pacific and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, March 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $264.86.

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.