Arkadios Wealth Advisors Acquires 2,828 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Key Points

• Arkadios Wealth Advisors increased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 105.8% in Q1, owning 5,502 shares valued at approximately $1.3 million.
• Union Pacific reported Q2 earnings of $3.03 EPS, exceeding analyst expectations of $2.84, with revenue growing 2.4% year-over-year to $6.15 billion.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend increase to $1.38, up from $1.34, representing an annualized dividend of $5.52 with a yield of 2.5%.

Arkadios Wealth Advisors boosted its position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 105.8% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 5,502 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 2,828 shares during the period. Arkadios Wealth Advisors' holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,300,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Allred Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Allred Capital Management LLC now owns 8,349 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,904,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the period. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 38.8% during the fourth quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.6% in the fourth quarter. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC now owns 2,922 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $666,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares during the period. First Financial Bank Trust Division grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.7% in the first quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Division now owns 2,803 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $662,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Stiles Financial Services Inc raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. Stiles Financial Services Inc now owns 2,963 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $700,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Price Performance

NYSE:UNP traded up $2.63 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $222.03. The stock had a trading volume of 4,181,048 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,204,046. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $227.04 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $230.83. The stock has a market capitalization of $131.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.29, a P/E/G ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 1.05. Union Pacific Corporation has a one year low of $204.66 and a one year high of $258.07. 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 (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its 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 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 quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.74 EPS. Union Pacific's quarterly revenue was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts expect 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 given a $1.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. 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%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is presently 46.57%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have commented on UNP. Sanford C. Bernstein raised their target price on Union Pacific from $271.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, July 21st. Citigroup lowered Union Pacific from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating and reduced their target price for the company from $270.00 to $250.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Bank of America lifted their target price on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their target price on Union Pacific from $257.00 to $276.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Finally, Baird R W raised Union Pacific to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 1st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price 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.