Shufro Rose & Co. LLC Raises Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Key Points

• Shufro Rose & Co. LLC significantly increased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 168.8%, now holding 8,007 shares valued at approximately $1.89 million.
• Union Pacific recently reported a quarterly earnings EPS of $3.03, exceeding analysts' expectations, and announced a dividend increase to $1.38 per share.
• Several analysts have downgraded their rating and price targets for Union Pacific, with Citigroup lowering the target from $270.00 to $250.00, indicating cautious sentiment among market watchers.

Shufro Rose & Co. LLC boosted its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 168.8% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 8,007 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 5,028 shares during the quarter. Shufro Rose & Co. LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,892,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Fiduciary Trust Co boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. Fiduciary Trust Co now owns 102,213 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $23,309,000 after acquiring an additional 2,807 shares during the last quarter. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $781,000. SlateStone Wealth LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific by 6.2% in the 1st quarter. SlateStone Wealth LLC now owns 13,264 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $3,133,000 after buying an additional 772 shares during the last quarter. Meadow Creek Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific by 10.9% in the 1st quarter. Meadow Creek Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,666 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $866,000 after buying an additional 359 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific by 16.8% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 10,545 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $2,491,000 after buying an additional 1,520 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the company. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $250.00 to $285.00 in a research report on Friday, July 25th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Union Pacific from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, July 7th. UBS Group lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $238.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Stephens decreased their price target on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Finally, Baird R W raised Union Pacific to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $258.21.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNP traded down $2.66 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $219.31. 4,637,305 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,972,172. The company has a market cap of $130.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.05, a P/E/G ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.65. Union Pacific Corporation has a one year low of $204.66 and a one year high of $258.07. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $227.04 and a 200 day moving average of $230.86.

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 (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.84 by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.73% and a net margin of 28.43%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.74 earnings per share. As a group, equities research 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. Investors of record on Friday, August 29th will be given a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.5%. This is a boost from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 46.57%.

Union Pacific Company 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.