Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. Has $2.42 Million Position in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. increased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 183.8%, owning over 10,000 shares valued at approximately $2.4 million as of the latest quarter.
• Union Pacific recently announced a quarterly dividend of $1.38, up from $1.34, with a dividend yield of 2.5%.
• Analysts have mixed ratings on Union Pacific, with a current average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $258.21.

Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 183.8% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 10,238 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 6,631 shares during the quarter. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $2,419,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Highline Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in Union Pacific by 103.5% during the first quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 116 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares during the period. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 50.5% in the 1st quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 167 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares during the last quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 38.8% in the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Finally, IMA Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 1st quarter valued at $43,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UNP has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their price objective for the company from $250.00 to $285.00 in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Evercore ISI reduced their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $244.00 to $238.00 and set an "in-line" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 25th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Citigroup lowered shares of Union Pacific from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $270.00 to $250.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Finally, Barclays lowered shares of Union Pacific from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $258.21.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Union Pacific stock traded down $1.5450 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $224.1350. 829,601 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,349,675. The firm has a market cap of $132.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.50, a PEG ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a current ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $226.91 and a 200 day moving average of $229.03. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12 month low of $204.66 and a 12 month high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 in the prior year, the business earned $2.74 earnings per share. Union Pacific's revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be paid 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 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is currently 46.57%.

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.