Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC Increases Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 80.9%, acquiring an additional 26,418 shares during the first quarter, bringing its total to 59,067 shares valued at approximately $13.95 million.
• Union Pacific reported a strong earnings performance with $3.03 earnings per share for the quarter, exceeding analysts' estimates and showcasing a revenue increase of 2.4% year-over-year.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $1.38, representing a 2.5% yield and an annualized dividend increase from the previous payment of $1.34.

Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 80.9% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 59,067 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 26,418 shares during the period. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $13,954,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of UNP. Highline Wealth Partners LLC increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 103.5% in the 1st 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. purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL boosted its stake in 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 purchasing an additional 45 shares during the period. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC grew its holdings 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 buying an additional 56 shares in the last quarter. Finally, IMA Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Trading Up 1.4%

UNP traded up $3.1130 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $223.1930. The company had a trading volume of 3,631,073 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,351,406. The stock has a market cap of $132.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.38, a PEG ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 1.05. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $226.97 and a 200-day simple moving average of $229.09. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $258.07. 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 released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.84 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $6.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates 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 for the quarter was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.74 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS 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. Investors of record on Friday, August 29th will be issued a $1.38 dividend. This is a boost from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.5%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is currently 46.57%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on UNP shares. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price objective for the company from $250.00 to $285.00 in a report on Friday, July 25th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $238.00 to $240.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. Finally, Argus downgraded Union Pacific from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $258.21.

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.