Union Pacific Corporation $UNP Shares Acquired by Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas

Key Points

• Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas increased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 123.6%, acquiring a total of 62,176 shares, valued at approximately $14.3 million.
• Union Pacific recently declared a quarterly dividend of $1.38 per share, raising its annualized dividend to $5.52 with a yield of 2.3%.
• The company's latest quarterly earnings showed a profit of $3.03 EPS, exceeding estimates, and revenue increased by 2.4% year-over-year to $6.15 billion.

Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas raised its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 123.6% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 62,176 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 34,371 shares during the period. Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas' holdings in Union Pacific were worth $14,306,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of UNP. LGT Group Foundation boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 9.7% during the first quarter. LGT Group Foundation now owns 5,398 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,275,000 after buying an additional 477 shares during the period. Nuveen LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $988,822,000. SlateStone Wealth LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific by 6.2% during the 1st quarter. SlateStone Wealth LLC now owns 13,264 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $3,133,000 after acquiring an additional 772 shares during the period. Meadow Creek Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of 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 valued at $866,000 after purchasing an additional 359 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 16.8% in the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 10,545 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,491,000 after purchasing an additional 1,520 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNP opened at $235.14 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.65. The business's fifty day moving average price is $222.73 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $224.47. The stock has a market cap of $139.45 billion, a PE ratio of 20.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.45 and a beta of 1.03. Union Pacific Corporation has a one year low of $204.66 and a one year high of $256.84.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.19. The business 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 business's revenue was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.74 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared 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. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. This is an increase from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is 47.96%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently weighed in on UNP. Robert W. Baird started coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $231.00 price objective on the stock. Barclays lowered Union Pacific from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $271.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, July 21st. Evercore ISI reduced their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $244.00 to $238.00 and set an "in-line" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Finally, Raymond James Financial restated a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday, July 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $260.00.

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.

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UNP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report).

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate reporting. This story was reviewed by MarketBeat's editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.