Janus Henderson Group PLC Buys 162,065 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Janus Henderson Group PLC boosted its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 9.8% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,820,796 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 162,065 shares during the quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $441,769,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of UNP. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.1% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 59,329,262 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $13,724,045,000 after purchasing an additional 659,378 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 4.3% during the fourth quarter. State Street Corp now owns 26,330,080 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $6,090,674,000 after purchasing an additional 1,082,285 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 92.1% during the fourth quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 20,136,349 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $4,658,142,000 after purchasing an additional 9,655,306 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in Union Pacific by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 15,360,668 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $3,552,550,000 after purchasing an additional 296,814 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley grew its position in Union Pacific by 5.0% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 12,636,050 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,922,971,000 after purchasing an additional 602,647 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UNP has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Evercore reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $294.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, June 25th. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed a “market perform” rating and issued a $320.00 target price (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, July 24th. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed a “strong-buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Monday, July 13th. Susquehanna lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $305.00 to $333.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 14th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Union Pacific from $304.00 to $334.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $320.89.

Trending Headlines about Union Pacific

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

• Positive Sentiment: Union Pacific increased its quarterly dividend by 3% to $1.42 per share, payable September 30 to shareholders of record August 31. The company has now paid common-stock dividends for 127 consecutive years, reinforcing its shareholder-return profile. Union Pacific Corporation Announces 3% Dividend Increase for Third Quarter 2026
• Positive Sentiment: Recent coverage highlights Union Pacific’s earnings beat, improving rail volumes and continued merger momentum. The company’s latest reported quarter included adjusted earnings of $3.41 per share versus a $3.26 estimate, with revenue up 11.5% year over year to $6.86 billion.
• Positive Sentiment: Hedge-fund preference for Union Pacific over Canadian Pacific, along with Bernstein maintaining a Buy rating and Baird raising its price target to $344, supports the bullish view that the railroad’s earnings outlook and proposed Norfolk Southern combination could create substantial long-term value. Hedge Funds Favor Union Pacific Over Canadian Pacific
• Neutral Sentiment: Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern executives say recent additions to their merger application address competition concerns and would improve service, lower costs and shift freight from trucks to rail. Approval remains uncertain, making the deal a potentially significant but unresolved catalyst. CEOs of UP and NS Discuss Rail Merger Filing
• Negative Sentiment: BNSF’s CEO continues to argue that Union Pacific’s proposed approximately $85 billion merger with Norfolk Southern would be anticompetitive and could increase transcontinental rates and prices. The criticism underscores the regulatory and political obstacles that may be pressuring the stock today. BNSF CEO Assails New Rail Merger Filing
• Negative Sentiment: At roughly 23 times earnings and near its one-year high, Union Pacific’s valuation leaves less room for disappointment. Investors may be taking profits while awaiting clearer evidence that the merger can overcome opposition and secure regulatory approval.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP stock opened at $289.15 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $171.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.41, a P/E/G ratio of 2.99 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.99. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52 week low of $210.84 and a 52 week high of $315.99. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $277.08 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $260.33.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 earnings per share 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 firm had revenue of $6.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.72 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $3.03 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 11.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.9 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Monday, August 31st will be issued a $1.42 dividend. This is a boost from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 31st. This represents a $5.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.0%. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is presently 44.70%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total value of $789,504.36. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 43,012 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,353,447.52. This represents a 6.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific 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.