Union Pacific Corporation $UNP Shares Acquired by Jefferies Financial Group Inc.

Jefferies Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 1,581.2% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 232,000 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 218,200 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific comprises 0.3% of Jefferies Financial Group Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest position. Jefferies Financial Group Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $54,838,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the 2nd quarter valued at $1,856,340,000. Fisher Asset Management LLC raised its position in Union Pacific by 0.5% in the third quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 6,428,229 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,519,441,000 after purchasing an additional 29,514 shares during the period. Amundi lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 35.6% during the second quarter. Amundi now owns 4,782,577 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,134,236,000 after purchasing an additional 1,255,231 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 2.8% in the third quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,693,498 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $873,018,000 after buying an additional 101,776 shares during the period. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 32.8% in the second quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 3,152,042 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $725,222,000 after buying an additional 778,411 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UNP has been the topic of several analyst reports. Barclays reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $285.00 target price (up from $270.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $280.00 price target on Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, December 18th. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed a “market perform” rating and issued a $295.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, February 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $265.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $245.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $263.77.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP stock opened at $253.98 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $244.90 and a two-hundred day moving average of $233.05. The firm has a market cap of $150.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.22, a P/E/G ratio of 2.77 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 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 (EPS) 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 company had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.15 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.91 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be paid 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 2.2%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 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.