Davis R M Inc. Grows Position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Key Points

• Davis R M Inc. increased its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation by 1.7%, purchasing an additional 2,717 shares to reach a total of 160,113 shares valued at approximately $37.8 million.
• Union Pacific recently reported earnings of $3.03 per share, exceeding estimates by $0.19, and announced a quarterly dividend increase from $1.34 to $1.38 per share.
• Currently, 80.38% of Union Pacific's shares are owned by institutional investors, indicating strong interest in the company among large financial entities.

Davis R M Inc. increased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 1.7% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 160,113 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 2,717 shares during the period. Davis R M Inc.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $37,825,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Highline Wealth Partners LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 103.5% in the first quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 116 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 1st quarter worth about $32,000. EnRich Financial Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 38.8% in the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cornerstone Planning Group LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific by 50.5% during the 1st quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 167 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $37,000 after acquiring an additional 56 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Union Pacific stock traded up $1.74 during trading on Monday, reaching $221.14. The company had a trading volume of 1,982,754 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,325,180. The firm has a market capitalization of $131.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 1.05. 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 firm's 50-day simple moving average is $227.04 and its 200 day simple moving average is $230.83. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.73% and a net margin of 28.43%. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.74 earnings per share. 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 firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be paid a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. This is a boost from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 46.57%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UNP has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Baird R W raised Union Pacific to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. Barclays downgraded Union Pacific from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $257.00 to $276.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average 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.