J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. Boosts Stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 160.8% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 35,904 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 22,139 shares during the period. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $8,482,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Highline Wealth Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the first quarter worth about $32,000. EnRich Financial Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth about $31,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 38.8% in the fourth 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 stake in shares of Union Pacific by 50.5% in the first quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 167 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 56 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently commented on UNP shares. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $271.00 price target (up previously from $267.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. Barclays upped their price objective on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 10th. UBS Group cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. Stephens cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Finally, Argus upgraded Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $257.13.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP stock opened at $224.90 on Friday. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $258.07. The firm has a market capitalization of $134.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 1.05. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $227.52 and a 200 day simple moving average of $231.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91, a current ratio of 0.73 and a quick ratio of 0.61.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.73 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.80% and a net margin of 27.76%. The business had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.11 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.69 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 29th will be issued a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.45%. This is a positive change from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is 48.29%.

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.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate reporting. This story was reviewed by MarketBeat's editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.