Jennison Associates LLC Sells 5,657 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Jennison Associates LLC decreased its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 0.7% in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 846,453 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 5,657 shares during the quarter. Jennison Associates LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $195,802,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Rachor Investment Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Caitlin John LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the third quarter worth about $27,000. Saranac Partners Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the third quarter worth about $27,000. High Point Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Finally, Stephens Consulting LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 48.4% in the fourth quarter. Stephens Consulting LLC now owns 135 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 44 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Key Stories Impacting Union Pacific

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

• Positive Sentiment: UP and Norfolk Southern submitted an amended STB merger application arguing the combination would create America’s first transcontinental railroad and deliver roughly $3.5 billion of annual savings to shippers; the firms say the filing completes additional STB-requested analysis and highlights potential revenue and cost synergies if approved. Creating America’s First Transcontinental Railroad
• Positive Sentiment: Broker optimism is rising after UNP’s Q1 beat and the merger filing: Citi, Raymond James and Barclays among others raised price targets (Citi to $307; Raymond James to $310; Barclays to $315), which supports upside expectations and analyst conviction. Is Union Pacific (UNP) the Best Harvard University Stock Pick?
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst and sector pieces continue to highlight UNP’s Q1 margin strength and long?term franchise quality vs. peers (e.g., UPS comparisons), but these reads mostly reinforce existing narratives rather than change the near?term catalyst set. UPS or UNP: Which Transportation Stock Holds an Edge Post Q1 Earnings?
• Neutral Sentiment: Brand/PR item — Union Pacific’s restored Big Boy locomotive will tour the Northeast in partnership with Norfolk Southern, a high?visibility marketing event that is goodwill?positive but unlikely to move fundamentals. Union Pacific’s Big Boy to Tour the Northeast
• Negative Sentiment: A new anti?merger coalition of rival railroads and shippers has formed to oppose the UP?NS tie?up, increasing the likelihood of prolonged regulatory scrutiny, legal challenges, and conditions that could dilute expected deal benefits. Anti-merger group launches as UP, NS prepare to refile application
• Negative Sentiment: Insider selling: UNP disclosed large executive sales (EVP Kenyatta Rocker sold ~27,387 shares; CFO Jennifer Hamann sold 2,000 shares). Significant insider exits can create short?term investor concern about timing and valuation even if sales are for routine/portfolio reasons. Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) CFO Sells $549,400.00 in Stock

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently commented on UNP. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $289.00 target price (up from $273.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $300.00 target price (up from $260.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. Evercore reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $277.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. UBS Group restated a “neutral” rating and set a $274.00 price objective (up from $253.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. Finally, Raymond James Financial set a $310.00 price objective on Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $279.55.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In other news, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.70, for a total value of $549,400.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 114,642 shares in the company, valued at approximately $31,492,157.40. This represents a 1.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 1,999 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $234.93, for a total value of $469,625.07. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 31,386 shares of company stock worth $8,461,716. 0.22% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Union Pacific Trading Up 0.5%

Shares of UNP stock opened at $266.04 on Thursday. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1 year low of $210.84 and a 1 year high of $274.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53, a current ratio of 0.92 and a quick ratio of 0.73. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $252.04 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $239.12. The company has a market cap of $157.95 billion, a PE ratio of 21.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 0.96.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.93 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.86 by $0.07. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 39.58% and a net margin of 29.20%.The firm had revenue of $6.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.12 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.70 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.53 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 27th were issued a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 27th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 45.47%.

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.