Aptus Capital Advisors LLC Increases Stake in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• Aptus Capital Advisors LLC significantly increased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 429.7% in the first quarter, owning 95,110 shares valued at $22.47 million.
• Union Pacific recently announced an increase in its quarterly dividend to $1.38, representing an annualized yield of 2.5%.
• Currently, institutional investors hold approximately 80.38% of Union Pacific’s stock, reflecting strong support among large financial entities.

Aptus Capital Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 429.7% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 95,110 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 77,153 shares during the period. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $22,469,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. First Financial Bank Trust Division raised its stake in Union Pacific by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Division now owns 2,803 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $662,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. Stiles Financial Services Inc increased its stake in Union Pacific by 1.6% in the first quarter. Stiles Financial Services Inc now owns 2,963 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $700,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. Avalon Trust Co grew its position in Union Pacific by 5.1% during the first quarter. Avalon Trust Co now owns 1,004 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $237,000 after acquiring an additional 49 shares during the period. Mather Group LLC. boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.7% in the first quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 3,041 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $718,000 after buying an additional 50 shares during the period. Finally, Mystic Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.2% in the first quarter. Mystic Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,359 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $557,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently issued reports on UNP shares. Baird R W raised Union Pacific to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 1st. Argus lowered Union Pacific from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 12th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Union Pacific from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Sanford C. Bernstein upped their price objective on Union Pacific from $271.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, July 21st. Finally, Barclays cut shares of Union Pacific from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $258.21.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.4%

NYSE:UNP opened at $220.55 on Monday. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $258.07. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $227.06 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $229.29. The firm has a market cap of $130.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.65.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.43% and a return on equity of 41.73%. The company had revenue of $6.15 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.74 EPS. Union Pacific's revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 29th will be given a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. This is a boost from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is 46.57%.

About Union Pacific

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.

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