Merit Financial Group LLC Acquires 12,305 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• Merit Financial Group LLC increased its shares in Union Pacific Corporation by 48.8%, bringing their total holdings to 37,512 shares valued at approximately $8.63 million.
• Union Pacific recently announced a quarterly dividend increase to $1.38 per share, which reflects a yield of 2.3% and a positive change from the previous dividend of $1.34.
• Market analysts have mixed opinions on Union Pacific's stock, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a target price averaging $260.54 per share.

Merit Financial Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 48.8% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 37,512 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 12,305 shares during the period. Merit Financial Group LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $8,631,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of UNP. Highline Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 103.5% during the first quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 116 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 1,400.0% in the first quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 120 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares in the last quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the first quarter valued at approximately $32,000. WPG Advisers LLC bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the first quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, Cornerstone Planning Group LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 50.5% in the first quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 167 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 7th. Barclays downgraded shares of Union Pacific from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Baird R W raised shares of Union Pacific to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. UBS Group set a $253.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, July 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $260.54.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.9%

Shares of UNP stock opened at $236.60 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $223.67 and a 200-day moving average of $224.44. 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 Corporation has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $256.84. The company has a market capitalization of $140.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.56, a P/E/G ratio of 2.47 and a beta of 1.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.43% and a return on equity of 41.73%. The company had revenue of $6.15 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.74 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 29th were issued a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 29th. This is a positive change from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.3%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is currently 47.96%.

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.

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