KBC Group NV Increases Position in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

KBC Group NV increased its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 17.7% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 108,489 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 16,295 shares during the quarter. KBC Group NV’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $29,509,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Cambient Family Office LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth $1,319,000. First National Bank of Omaha lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 35.8% during the fourth quarter. First National Bank of Omaha now owns 54,635 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $12,665,000 after purchasing an additional 14,399 shares in the last quarter. North Dakota State Investment Board purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at $4,746,000. Sage Investment Advisers LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at $997,000. Finally, Truist Financial Corp grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 3.1% in the fourth quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 1,016,071 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $235,038,000 after purchasing an additional 30,079 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UNP has been the subject of a number of research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $304.00 to $334.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. TD Cowen reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $325.00 price target (up from $282.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Benchmark lifted their price objective on Union Pacific from $325.00 to $335.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, July 24th. Bank of America boosted their price objective on Union Pacific from $301.00 to $334.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised Union Pacific from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a report on Friday, July 24th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $320.89.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total value of $789,504.36. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 43,012 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,353,447.52. This represents a 6.50% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.0%

Shares of UNP opened at $293.57 on Monday. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52-week low of $210.84 and a 52-week high of $315.99. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $283.00 and its two-hundred day moving average is $265.37. The stock has a market cap of $174.40 billion, a PE ratio of 23.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.96.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.26 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $6.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.72 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.85% and a return on equity of 38.46%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $3.03 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Monday, August 31st will be paid a dividend of $1.42 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 31st. This represents a $5.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.9%. This is a boost from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 44.70%.

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.