Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. Acquires 2,519 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 1.2%, acquiring an additional 2,519 shares during the 1st quarter, bringing its total holdings to 209,022 shares valued at approximately $49.4 million.
• Union Pacific recently announced a quarterly dividend increase to $1.38 per share, up from $1.34, representing a 2.4% yield with a payout ratio of 47.96%.
• The company reported strong earnings for the latest quarter, with $3.03 EPS beating estimates, and has a consensus target price of $258.21 from analysts.

Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 1.2% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 209,022 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 2,519 shares during the period. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $49,379,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. First Financial Bank Trust Division raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Division now owns 2,803 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $662,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares during the period. Stiles Financial Services Inc raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. Stiles Financial Services Inc now owns 2,963 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $700,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the period. Avalon Trust Co raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 5.1% in the 1st quarter. Avalon Trust Co now owns 1,004 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $237,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the period. Mather Group LLC. raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 3,041 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $718,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the period. Finally, Mystic Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 2.2% in the 1st quarter. Mystic Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,359 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $557,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms recently commented on UNP. Robert W. Baird began coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, July 1st. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $231.00 price target on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $263.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Monday, June 2nd. Barclays downgraded shares of Union Pacific from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 7th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $258.21.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Union Pacific stock opened at $227.4770 on Friday. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $226.99 and its 200 day simple moving average is $228.69. The company has a current ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86. The firm has a market capitalization of $134.90 billion, a PE ratio of 19.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.21 and a beta of 1.05. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1-year low of $204.66 and a 1-year high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results 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 business had revenue of $6.15 billion for 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%. Union Pacific's revenue was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.74 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be given a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. This is a boost from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.4%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) 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.

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