Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) Shares Acquired by American Century Companies Inc.

American Century Companies Inc. grew its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 3.8% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,229,092 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 44,738 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $290,361,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of UNP. Highline Wealth Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 103.5% in the first quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 116 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the first quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 38.8% in the fourth quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 50.5% in the first quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 167 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 56 shares in the last quarter. Finally, IMA Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the first quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UNP has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Bank of America lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $250.00 to $285.00 in a research report on Friday, July 25th. Evercore ISI decreased their target price on Union Pacific from $244.00 to $238.00 and set an “in-line” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 25th. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on Union Pacific from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 7th. Finally, Stephens cut their price target on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $258.21.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP opened at $221.62 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $131.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.25, a PEG ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.05. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $227.11 and a 200-day moving average of $229.77. The company has a current ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $6.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.09 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.73% and a net margin of 28.43%. The business’s revenue was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.74 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 29th will be issued a $1.38 dividend. This is a positive change from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.5%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.57%.

Union Pacific Profile

Union Pacific Corporation, through its subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad Company, operates in the railroad business in the United States. The company offers transportation services for grain and grain products, fertilizers, food and refrigerated products, and coal and renewables to grain processors, animal feeders, ethanol producers, renewable biofuel producers, and other agricultural users; and construction products, industrial chemicals, plastics, forest products, specialized products, metals and ores, petroleum, liquid petroleum gases, soda ash, and sand, as well as finished automobiles, automotive parts, and merchandise in intermodal containers.