Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) Shares Acquired by Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management

Key Points

• Empirical Wealth Management increased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 129.3%, owning 9,507 shares worth approximately $2.25 million as of their latest filing.
• Union Pacific Corporation's recent earnings report showed earnings per share of $3.03, exceeding analysts' expectations of $2.84, and revenue of $6.15 billion.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $1.38 per share, representing an increase from the previous dividend and yielding 2.5%.

Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management grew its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 129.3% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 9,507 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 5,360 shares during the period. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $2,246,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Harbour Investments Inc. lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 10.0% during the first quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 9,298 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $2,197,000 after purchasing an additional 845 shares in the last quarter. Brentview Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 5.4% in the first quarter. Brentview Investment Management LLC now owns 15,944 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $3,767,000 after buying an additional 812 shares during the last quarter. Sound View Wealth Advisors Group LLC increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 5.4% in the first quarter. Sound View Wealth Advisors Group LLC now owns 4,192 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $990,000 after buying an additional 215 shares during the last quarter. Cordatus Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 5.2% in the first quarter. Cordatus Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,248 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,712,000 after buying an additional 361 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hoxton Planning & Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the first quarter worth about $560,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Trading Down 1.2%

Shares of UNP traded down $2.66 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $219.31. The company had a trading volume of 4,637,305 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,972,172. The stock has a market cap of $130.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 1.06. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $227.04 and a 200-day simple moving average of $230.86. Union Pacific Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $204.66 and a fifty-two week high of $258.07. 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 announced its quarterly 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. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.43% and a return on equity of 41.73%. The firm had revenue of $6.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.09 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.74 EPS. The firm's revenue was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be issued a $1.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.5%. This is an increase from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 46.57%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have issued reports on UNP. Barclays lowered Union Pacific from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday. Baird R W upgraded shares of Union Pacific to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. Stephens decreased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $263.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Monday, June 2nd. Finally, Argus upgraded shares of Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $258.21.

Union Pacific Profile

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.