River Road Asset Management LLC Has $113.41 Million Stock Position in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

River Road Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 1,213.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 490,254 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 452,922 shares during the period. Union Pacific comprises 1.2% of River Road Asset Management LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 23rd largest holding. River Road Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $113,406,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Capital World Investors increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 92.1% in the fourth quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 20,136,349 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $4,658,142,000 after purchasing an additional 9,655,306 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new position in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth $1,779,907,000. Capital Research Global Investors lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 95.0% during the 3rd quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 8,713,196 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,059,538,000 after buying an additional 4,244,226 shares during the period. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 72.7% during the 3rd quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 9,177,002 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,169,168,000 after buying an additional 3,861,636 shares during the period. Finally, EdgePoint Investment Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 3rd quarter valued at about $408,592,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP opened at $257.46 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $263.62 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $249.75. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12 month low of $210.84 and a 12 month high of $279.70. The stock has a market capitalization of $152.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 0.97.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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. The firm had revenue of $6.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.12 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 39.58% and a net margin of 29.20%.The business’s quarterly revenue was up 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.70 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.55 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, May 29th will be paid a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 29th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 45.47%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Kenyatta G. Rocker sold 27,387 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $271.76, for a total transaction of $7,442,691.12. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 61,102 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,605,079.52. This represents a 30.95% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, 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 transaction, the chief financial officer owned 114,642 shares in the company, valued at $31,492,157.40. The trade was a 1.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last three months, insiders sold 32,378 shares of company stock worth $8,781,595. 0.22% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNP has been the subject of several recent research reports. Benchmark increased their price target on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $300.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, April 24th. Evercore reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $277.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, April 24th. Barclays reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $315.00 target price (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. Robert W. Baird set a $311.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, March 6th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company restated an “overweight” rating and set a $300.00 price target (up from $260.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have issued a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $282.21.

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.