Union Pacific Corporation $UNP Shares Purchased by Belmont Capital LLC

Key Points

• Belmont Capital LLC expanded its investment in Union Pacific Corporation by 175.1% in the first quarter, acquiring an additional 1,170 shares to reach a total of 1,838 shares valued at approximately $434,000.
• Union Pacific recently reported earnings of $3.03 per share, exceeding analyst expectations, and announced a quarterly dividend increase to $1.38 per share.
• Despite positive earnings, Union Pacific's stock has seen a 0.7% decline recently, with a current market price of $221.90 and a 52-week range between $204.66 and $258.07.

Belmont Capital LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 175.1% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,838 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 1,170 shares during the period. Belmont Capital LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $434,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Northern Trust Corp increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 2.0% in the first quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 7,105,382 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,678,575,000 after purchasing an additional 142,732 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 5.4% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 6,949,345 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,641,715,000 after buying an additional 354,463 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 5,105,784 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,206,191,000 after buying an additional 86,292 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 35.2% in the 4th quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 4,968,658 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,133,053,000 after buying an additional 1,294,643 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 10.8% in the 1st quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 4,626,200 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,092,893,000 after acquiring an additional 452,788 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Down 1.2%

Shares of Union Pacific stock traded down $2.72 on Friday, reaching $220.34. The stock had a trading volume of 4,001,761 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,119,977. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $226.40 and a 200 day moving average price of $226.95. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1 year low of $204.66 and a 1 year high of $256.84. The stock has a market capitalization of $130.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.14, a P/E/G ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 1.03.

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

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be paid a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. This is a positive change from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 47.96%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on UNP shares. Citigroup lowered shares of Union Pacific from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $270.00 to $250.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Raymond James Financial reiterated a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a "neutral" rating and issued a $263.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Monday, June 2nd. Finally, Bank of America boosted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific 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.