SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. Grows Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 470.6% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,213 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 5,949 shares during the quarter. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,704,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $20,683,000. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 17.4% in the 4th quarter. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,775 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $405,000 after acquiring an additional 263 shares during the period. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 6.8% in the 4th quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 1,344 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $306,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares during the period. Consolidated Portfolio Review Corp increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 92.5% in the 4th quarter. Consolidated Portfolio Review Corp now owns 2,514 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $573,000 after acquiring an additional 1,208 shares during the period. Finally, Leo Wealth LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 190.3% in the 4th quarter. Leo Wealth LLC now owns 3,765 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $859,000 after acquiring an additional 2,468 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently commented on UNP. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 27th. Stephens dropped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Redburn Atlantic raised shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, Citigroup raised shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $260.00 to $244.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $257.74.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of Union Pacific stock traded up $2.74 on Friday, hitting $223.39. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,953,392 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,678,511. Union Pacific Co. has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $258.07. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $220.25 and a 200-day moving average price of $232.22. The company has a market capitalization of $133.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.73 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. The firm had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.11 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.69 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.40%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is currently 48.29%.

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.