Union Pacific Corporation $UNP Stock Holdings Boosted by First Financial Bankshares Inc

Key Points

• First Financial Bankshares Inc's stake in Union Pacific Corporation increased by 2.9%, now totaling $20.74 million for 87,797 shares.
• Union Pacific recently declared a quarterly dividend of $1.38 per share, reflecting an increase from the prior dividend of $1.34, with a current yield of 2.5%.
• Analysts have issued a range of ratings for Union Pacific, with a majority giving a Buy rating and an average price target of $258.21, indicating positive sentiment towards the stock.

First Financial Bankshares Inc increased its position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 2.9% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 87,797 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 2,467 shares during the period. First Financial Bankshares Inc's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $20,741,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Flputnam Investment Management Co. lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Flputnam Investment Management Co. now owns 127,078 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $30,021,000 after acquiring an additional 427 shares during the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.7% during the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 5,105,784 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,206,191,000 after acquiring an additional 86,292 shares during the period. ICW Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 3.9% during the first quarter. ICW Investment Advisors LLC now owns 5,254 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,241,000 after acquiring an additional 196 shares during the period. Retirement Planning Co of New England Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the first quarter worth approximately $557,000. Finally, Quarry LP boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 1,923.1% in the first quarter. Quarry LP now owns 526 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $124,000 after acquiring an additional 500 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their price target for the stock from $250.00 to $285.00 in a report on Friday, July 25th. Evercore ISI dropped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $244.00 to $238.00 and set an "in-line" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 25th. Barclays lowered shares of Union Pacific from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Baird R W raised shares of Union Pacific to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. Finally, Susquehanna reduced their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $257.00 and set a "positive" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. One 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. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $258.21.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Union Pacific stock traded up $1.36 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $223.12. 3,319,921 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,443,535. The firm's 50 day moving average is $226.75 and its 200 day moving average is $227.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.65. The stock has a market cap of $132.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.38, a P/E/G ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.03. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $256.84.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates 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 net margin of 28.43% and a return on equity of 41.73%. The firm's revenue was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.74 EPS. Analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS 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. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be given a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. 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 dividend yield of 2.5%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is presently 47.96%.

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.