Sowell Financial Services LLC Takes Position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Sowell Financial Services LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 5,513 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $1,303,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC raised its position in Union Pacific by 3.1% during the first quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 227,148 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $53,662,000 after acquiring an additional 6,804 shares during the last quarter. Mission Wealth Management LP raised its position in Union Pacific by 28.1% in the first quarter. Mission Wealth Management LP now owns 16,177 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $3,822,000 after purchasing an additional 3,551 shares during the period. 1900 Wealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 7.4% during the first quarter. 1900 Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,238 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $529,000 after acquiring an additional 154 shares during the last quarter. Traphagen Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 16.6% in the 1st quarter. Traphagen Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,777 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $656,000 after acquiring an additional 396 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 90.7% in the first quarter. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG now owns 5,284 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,248,000 after buying an additional 2,513 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.3%

Shares of NYSE:UNP traded down $0.65 during trading on Friday, reaching $221.36. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,509,545 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,680,610. The stock has a market capitalization of $132.26 billion, a PE ratio of 19.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 1.05. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12 month low of $204.66 and a 12 month high of $258.07. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $221.18 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $231.04. The company has a current ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91.

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

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, May 30th will be issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 30th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.42%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.29%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UNP has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their target price on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. Citigroup upgraded Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $260.00 to $244.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Barclays decreased their price target on Union Pacific from $285.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 14th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $257.74.

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.