FARMERS & MERCHANTS TRUST Co OF LONG BEACH Raises Position in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• Farmers & Merchants Trust Co of Long Beach increased its position in Union Pacific Corporation by 192.7%, acquiring a total of 9,306 shares valued at approximately $2.14 million.
• Union Pacific has recently raised its quarterly dividend to $1.38 per share, representing a 2.3% dividend yield and an increase from the previous dividend of $1.34.
• The company reported $3.03 EPS for the last quarter, exceeding analyst expectations and showing a 2.4% revenue increase year-over-year.

FARMERS & MERCHANTS TRUST Co OF LONG BEACH lifted its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 192.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 9,306 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 6,127 shares during the period. FARMERS & MERCHANTS TRUST Co OF LONG BEACH's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $2,141,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of UNP. BTC Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 3.2% in the first quarter. BTC Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,131 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $503,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares during the last quarter. Bowman & Co S.C. boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.9% in the first quarter. Bowman & Co S.C. now owns 5,901 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,395,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares during the last quarter. Czech National Bank boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 5.6% in the first quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 138,795 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $32,789,000 after purchasing an additional 7,346 shares during the last quarter. Dakota Community Bank & Trust NA boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 3.0% in the first quarter. Dakota Community Bank & Trust NA now owns 1,839 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $434,000 after purchasing an additional 53 shares during the last quarter. Finally, American National Bank & Trust boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 15.0% in the first quarter. American National Bank & Trust now owns 50,206 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $11,861,000 after purchasing an additional 6,547 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Trading Up 1.4%

Shares of NYSE UNP opened at $235.14 on Monday. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $222.73 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $224.47. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $256.84. The stock has a market capitalization of $139.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.43, a PEG ratio of 2.45 and a beta of 1.03. 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 (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced 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 firm 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%.Union Pacific's revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.74 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business 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 dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.3%. 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 payout ratio is currently 47.96%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently commented on UNP shares. Loop Capital raised Union Pacific from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating and increased their price target for the company from $214.00 to $227.00 in a report on Tuesday, September 16th. Jefferies Financial Group raised Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price target for the company from $250.00 to $285.00 in a report on Friday, July 25th. Baird R W raised Union Pacific to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $263.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Monday, June 2nd. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on Union Pacific from $257.00 to $276.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $260.00.

Union Pacific 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.

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