Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. Buys 45,802 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Key Points

• Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 1.3%, owning approximately 3.7 million shares valued at $876 million, as of the end of the first quarter.
• Union Pacific announced a quarterly dividend of $1.38, up from the previous $1.34, with a dividend yield of 2.4%.
• Despite mixed ratings from analysts, Union Pacific has a consensus price target of $258.21, with several firms raising their price objectives recently.

Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 1.3% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,708,586 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 45,802 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. owned about 0.62% of Union Pacific worth $876,116,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in UNP. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 27,502.8% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,491,151 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $588,510,000 after buying an additional 2,482,126 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 14.3% in the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,395,364 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,370,559,000 after buying an additional 1,298,178 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC grew its position 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 valued at $1,133,053,000 after buying an additional 1,294,643 shares during the last quarter. Castlekeep Investment Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at about $273,361,000. Finally, Northern Trust Corp grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 15.2% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 6,962,650 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,587,763,000 after buying an additional 920,414 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP traded down $0.39 on Friday, reaching $222.27. 2,345,506 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,336,163. The company has a current ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $227.09 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $230.48. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $258.07. The stock has a market cap of $131.82 billion, a PE ratio of 19.31, a PEG ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.05.

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 (EPS) for the quarter, topping 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 business 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 business posted $2.74 earnings per share. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, 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. Shareholders 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. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.57%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Susquehanna cut their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $257.00 and set a "positive" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Union Pacific from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, July 25th. Robert W. Baird assumed coverage on Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. They set a "neutral" rating and a $231.00 target price on the stock. Bank of America upped their target price on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Finally, Barclays lowered Union Pacific from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $258.21.

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.