Sather Financial Group Inc Purchases 2,332 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Key Points

• Sather Financial Group Inc has increased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 2.5%, owning 94,448 shares worth approximately $22.31 million, making it the company's 24th biggest holding.
• Union Pacific recently reported a quarterly EPS of $3.03, surpassing estimates, and announced an increase in its quarterly dividend from $1.34 to $1.38 per share.
• The stock has received various rating updates from analysts, with Jefferies raising its price target to $285.00 and maintaining a "buy" rating on Union Pacific shares.

Sather Financial Group Inc lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 2.5% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 94,448 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 2,332 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific makes up about 1.5% of Sather Financial Group Inc's investment portfolio, making the stock its 24th largest position. Sather Financial Group Inc's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $22,312,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Angeles Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.7% in the first quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,650 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,571,000 after purchasing an additional 111 shares during the last quarter. First Heartland Consultants Inc. bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the first quarter valued at about $480,000. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.3% in the first quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ now owns 124,280 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $29,360,000 after purchasing an additional 1,589 shares during the last quarter. Phoenix Financial Ltd. increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 27.4% in the first quarter. Phoenix Financial Ltd. now owns 41,478 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $9,803,000 after purchasing an additional 8,925 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Drive Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 276.4% in the first quarter. Drive Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,226 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,707,000 after purchasing an additional 5,306 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms recently commented on UNP. Redburn Atlantic upgraded Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 price objective for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $263.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Monday, June 2nd. Robert W. Baird started coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, July 1st. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $231.00 price objective for the company. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on 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. Finally, Citigroup reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $250.00 target price (down from $270.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Wednesday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $258.21.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP traded up $1.44 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $225.21. The company's stock had a trading volume of 3,368,952 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,272,981. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1-year low of $204.66 and a 1-year high of $258.07. The stock has a market cap of $134.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.57, a PEG ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 1.05. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $227.07 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $231.00. The company has a current ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.53 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 (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.84 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.73% and a net margin of 28.43%. The company had revenue of $6.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.09 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.74 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

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