Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) Holdings Raised by Pacer Advisors Inc.

Key Points

• Pacer Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation by 17.6%, owning 65,888 shares worth approximately $15.57 million after acquiring more shares in the first quarter.
• The company recently declared a quarterly dividend of $1.38 per share, an increase from the previous quarterly dividend of $1.34, representing an annualized dividend yield of 2.46%.
• Union Pacific reported earnings of $3.03 per share for the last quarter, exceeding analysts' expectations of $2.84, with a revenue of $6.15 billion, also above forecasts.

Pacer Advisors Inc. increased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 17.6% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 65,888 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 9,873 shares during the quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $15,565,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Rothschild & Co Wealth Management UK Ltd increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 4.4% in the 1st quarter. Rothschild & Co Wealth Management UK Ltd now owns 27,822 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $6,573,000 after acquiring an additional 1,161 shares in the last quarter. Neo Ivy Capital Management purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the 1st quarter worth $2,094,000. Assetmark Inc. increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 4.4% in the 1st quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 37,484 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $8,855,000 after acquiring an additional 1,587 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 5.6% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 182,010 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $42,998,000 after acquiring an additional 9,576 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Avantax Advisory Services Inc. increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 4.8% in the 1st quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 36,222 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $8,557,000 after acquiring an additional 1,666 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.1%

Union Pacific stock traded up $0.26 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $224.03. 2,014,360 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,262,149. The company's fifty day moving average price is $227.07 and its 200-day moving average price is $231.00. The company has a market cap of $133.85 billion, a PE ratio of 19.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.53. Union Pacific Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $204.66 and a fifty-two week 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 (EPS) for the quarter, topping 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 for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.74 EPS. Union Pacific's revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm 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 dividend of $1.38 per share. 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 2.46%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is currently 47.96%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $263.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Monday, June 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price target for the stock from $250.00 to $285.00 in a research report on Friday, July 25th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, July 25th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $257.00 to $276.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $258.21.

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.