Baird Financial Group Inc. Acquires 62,008 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• Baird Financial Group Inc. increased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 3.2%, now owning approximately 1,984,957 shares valued at $468.9 million.
• Wall Street analysts have mixed ratings on Union Pacific, with a current average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a price target range from $258.21 to $277.00.
• Union Pacific recently declared a quarterly dividend of $1.38 per share, representing an increase from the previous dividend and a yield of 2.5%.

Baird Financial Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 3.2% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,984,957 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 62,008 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific accounts for approximately 0.9% of Baird Financial Group Inc.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 24th largest position. Baird Financial Group Inc. owned 0.33% of Union Pacific worth $468,926,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. First Financial Bank Trust Division increased its stake in Union Pacific by 1.7% in the first 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 shares of Union Pacific by 1.6% in the 1st 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 raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 5.1% during the 1st quarter. Avalon Trust Co now owns 1,004 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $237,000 after buying an additional 49 shares in the last quarter. Mather Group LLC. lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.7% during the 1st 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 last quarter. Finally, Mystic Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake 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 buying an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.7%

NYSE UNP traded down $1.67 on Tuesday, reaching $221.90. The company had a trading volume of 3,544,772 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,427,122. The firm has a market cap of $131.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.28, a P/E/G ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.53. Union Pacific Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $204.66 and a fifty-two week high of $258.07. The business has a 50 day moving average of $226.98 and a two-hundred day moving average of $227.56.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.84 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.73% and a net margin of 28.43%.The firm had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.09 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.74 EPS. The business's revenue was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be given a $1.38 dividend. This is an increase from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.5%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is presently 47.96%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have commented on UNP shares. Robert W. Baird initiated coverage on Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. They set a "neutral" rating and a $231.00 target price for the company. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 7th. Sanford C. Bernstein raised their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $271.00 to $286.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, July 21st. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their price target for the stock from $250.00 to $285.00 in a report on Friday, July 25th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $263.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Monday, June 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $258.21.

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.