Avantax Advisory Services Inc. Has $8.56 Million Position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Key Points

• Avantax Advisory Services Inc. increased its position in Union Pacific Corporation by 4.8% during the first quarter, holding 36,222 shares valued at approximately $8.56 million as per SEC filings.
• Union Pacific recently surpassed analyst expectations by reporting $3.03 earnings per share for the last quarter, exceeding the consensus estimate of $2.84.
• The company announced an increase in its quarterly dividend to $1.38 per share, representing a 2.46% yield, reflecting a commitment to returning value to shareholders.

Avantax Advisory Services Inc. grew its position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 4.8% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 36,222 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 1,666 shares during the quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $8,557,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. AssuredPartners Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $305,000. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P increased its position in Union Pacific by 14.0% during the 4th quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 35,139 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $8,013,000 after purchasing an additional 4,302 shares in the last quarter. New Age Alpha Advisors LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 7,152.9% during the 4th quarter. New Age Alpha Advisors LLC now owns 5,077 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,158,000 after purchasing an additional 5,007 shares in the last quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA increased its position in Union Pacific by 71.0% during the 4th quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 596,495 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $136,025,000 after purchasing an additional 247,722 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 3.1% during the 4th quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC now owns 64,511 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $14,711,000 after purchasing an additional 1,935 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have issued reports on UNP shares. Stephens decreased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Redburn Atlantic upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 price target for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. Barclays upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday. Finally, Baird R W upgraded shares of Union Pacific to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating, sixteen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $259.46.

Union Pacific Stock Up 1.9%

Shares of NYSE UNP opened at $224.71 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $134.26 billion, a PE ratio of 19.52, a P/E/G ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 1.05. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $258.07. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $227.17 and its 200 day simple moving average is $231.03. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.84 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.43% and a return on equity of 41.73%. The firm had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.09 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.74 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be issued a $1.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.46%. This is an increase from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is currently 47.96%.

Union Pacific Company 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.

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