Franklin Resources Inc. Buys 625,492 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Franklin Resources Inc. increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 9.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,322,450 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 625,492 shares during the quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. owned 1.21% of Union Pacific worth $1,795,993,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of UNP. Synovus Financial Corp lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 0.9% during the third quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 44,012 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $10,848,000 after purchasing an additional 399 shares in the last quarter. Tidal Investments LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 4.0% in the 3rd quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 42,556 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $10,489,000 after buying an additional 1,653 shares during the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 124.1% during the 3rd quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 52,963 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $13,054,000 after buying an additional 29,330 shares in the last quarter. Arvest Bank Trust Division purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $16,680,000. Finally, World Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in Union Pacific by 103.1% in the third quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC now owns 35,581 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $8,770,000 after purchasing an additional 18,060 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE UNP opened at $233.70 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $238.46 and a 200-day moving average of $238.27. Union Pacific Co. has a 52-week low of $218.55 and a 52-week high of $258.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 0.77. The company has a market capitalization of $141.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.46, a P/E/G ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.78 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.14 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.33% and a return on equity of 41.79%. Union Pacific’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.51 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 9th will be issued a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 9th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.29%. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 49.22%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have issued reports on UNP shares. TD Cowen decreased their target price on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $252.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $288.00 to $283.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Robert W. Baird lowered their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $260.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. Finally, Bank of America lowered their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $273.00 to $270.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, September 24th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $259.80.

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.