Brookwood Investment Group LLC Makes New Investment in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Key Points

• Brookwood Investment Group LLC has made a new investment in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP), acquiring approximately 1,617 shares valued at $382,000.
• Union Pacific recently increased its quarterly dividend to $1.38 per share, marking a rise from their previous dividend of $1.34.
• Analyst ratings for Union Pacific vary, with most holding a "Moderate Buy" rating and an average price target of $259.46 after several recent upgrades.

Brookwood Investment Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 1,617 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $382,000.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Atria Investments Inc lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 8.2% during the first quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 67,790 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $16,015,000 after purchasing an additional 5,165 shares during the last quarter. Journey Strategic Wealth LLC lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 5.9% during the first quarter. Journey Strategic Wealth LLC now owns 5,214 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,232,000 after purchasing an additional 292 shares during the last quarter. Advisor OS LLC lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 2.7% in the 1st quarter. Advisor OS LLC now owns 3,220 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $761,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares during the last quarter. Kovack Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 4.9% in the 1st quarter. Kovack Advisors Inc. now owns 1,775 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $419,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Carnegie Investment Counsel lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 7.5% in the 1st quarter. Carnegie Investment Counsel now owns 117,428 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $27,741,000 after acquiring an additional 8,216 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Up 1.9%

UNP stock traded up $4.19 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $224.71. The company's stock had a trading volume of 8,254,381 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,405,370. The company 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 has a current ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86. The firm's 50-day moving average is $227.17 and its 200-day moving average is $231.03.

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 (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.19. The business had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.09 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.73% and a net margin of 28.43%. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.74 EPS. On average, equities research 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 declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be issued a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.46%. This is a boost from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is presently 48.29%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on UNP. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Citigroup boosted their target price on Union Pacific from $244.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. Barclays boosted their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 10th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their price target for the company from $250.00 to $285.00 in a report on Friday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, sixteen have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $259.46.

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.