HB Wealth Management LLC Buys 13,619 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Key Points

• HB Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation by 30.3% in the first quarter, now owning 58,626 shares valued at approximately $13.85 million.
• Union Pacific reported a quarterly earnings per share (EPS) of $3.03, exceeding expectations and showing a revenue increase of 2.4% compared to the previous year.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.38, marking an increase from the previous dividend, with a yield of 2.46%.

HB Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 30.3% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 58,626 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 13,619 shares during the quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $13,850,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 12.6% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,430,581 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $3,282,305,000 after buying an additional 1,616,895 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 14.3% during the fourth quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,395,364 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,370,559,000 after acquiring an additional 1,298,178 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 5.0% during the fourth quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 7,686,387 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,752,804,000 after acquiring an additional 363,937 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 15.2% during the fourth quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 6,962,650 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,587,763,000 after buying an additional 920,414 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.6% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 6,594,882 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,503,899,000 after acquiring an additional 105,111 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNP traded up $1.42 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $225.19. 3,514,670 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,273,911. The business's 50 day moving average is $227.07 and its 200-day moving average is $231.00. The company has a market capitalization of $134.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 1.05. 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 1-year low of $204.66 and a 1-year high of $258.07.

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 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 the consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.74 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be issued a dividend of $1.38 per share. This is an increase from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.45%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 47.96%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts recently commented on the company. Bank of America upped their target price on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Susquehanna lowered their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $257.00 and set a "positive" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on Union Pacific from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 7th. UBS Group reissued a "neutral" rating and set a $240.00 price objective (up from $238.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, July 25th. Finally, Argus upgraded Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $258.21.

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.