Empowered Funds LLC Has $16.29 Million Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Empowered Funds LLC cut its position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 14.3% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 59,904 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 10,023 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $16,294,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of Union Pacific 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 $11,353,447.52. The trade was a 6.50% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Key Union Pacific News

Here are the key news stories impacting Union Pacific this week:

• Positive Sentiment: New analyst coverage adds support: Erste Group Bank AG initiated coverage of Union Pacific with a “buy” rating, signaling confidence in the railroad’s valuation and outlook. Erste Group Bank coverage
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend and earnings backdrop remains favorable: Union Pacific is being highlighted as a dividend-growth railroad, and recent quarterly results showed earnings and revenue above analyst expectations, with revenue up year over year. These factors reinforce the company’s appeal to income and quality-focused investors. Dividend-paying railroad stocks
• Neutral Sentiment: Merger application advances: Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern submitted expanded customer protections to the Surface Transportation Board, including broader eligibility for committed gateway pricing. The proposed terms could improve the prospects for approval of the first single-line transcontinental railroad network, although the transaction remains subject to a lengthy regulatory review. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern merger protections
• Neutral Sentiment: Management will address investors: CEO Jim Vena and CFO Jennifer Hamann are scheduled to participate in a Bernstein Research fireside chat on September 1. Investors may look for updates on merger strategy, rail efficiency and operating trends. Union Pacific Bernstein fireside chat
• Negative Sentiment: Regulatory and efficiency risks remain: The companies continue defending the merger against opponents’ challenges, while new analysis describes Union Pacific as facing a fresh test of rail efficiency. Any tougher STB scrutiny or evidence of operational weaknesses could temper merger-driven optimism. Merger application regulatory review

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of Union Pacific stock opened at $307.82 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $182.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.12 and a beta of 0.96. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $291.07 and its 200-day moving average is $269.81. Union Pacific Corporation has a one year low of $210.84 and a one year high of $315.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.82.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted 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 company had revenue of $6.86 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.72 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.03 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 13.01 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently weighed in on UNP shares. UBS Group reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $310.00 price target (up from $286.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Susquehanna increased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $305.00 to $333.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 14th. Raymond James Financial restated a “strong-buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Monday, July 13th. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $311.00 to $344.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, July 27th. Finally, Evercore reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $294.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, June 25th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $320.89.

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.