Daiichi Life Insurance Co. Ltd. Makes New Investment in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Daiichi Life Insurance Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 44,364 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $12,067,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Foyston Gordon & Payne Inc bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the second quarter worth approximately $12,796,000. Commerce Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at approximately $140,904,000. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at approximately $76,279,000. CFO4Life Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at approximately $766,000. Finally, Martin & Co. Inc. TN acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the second quarter worth approximately $1,224,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have commented on the company. Citigroup raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $326.00 to $349.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Susquehanna upped their target price on Union Pacific from $305.00 to $333.00 and gave the company a “positive” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $317.00 target price on Union Pacific and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Evercore restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $294.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, June 25th. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised Union Pacific from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $320.89.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE UNP opened at $307.97 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $182.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.94, a P/E/G ratio of 3.14 and a beta of 0.96. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $286.30 and its 200 day simple moving average is $267.60. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1 year low of $210.84 and a 1 year high of $315.99.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.26 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.85% and a return on equity of 38.46%. The business had revenue of $6.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.72 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $3.03 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 31st will be paid a $1.42 dividend. This represents a $5.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.8%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 31st. This is a positive change from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is 44.70%.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total value of $789,504.36. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 43,012 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,353,447.52. This trade represents a 6.50% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

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.