Union Pacific Corporation $UNP Shares Purchased by Essex Financial Services Inc.

Key Points

• Essex Financial Services Inc. increased its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation by 22.8% in Q2, owning a total of 15,611 shares valued at approximately $3.59 million as of the latest SEC filing.
• Union Pacific's stock price target has seen adjustments from several brokerages, with UBS raising it to $240.00 and Sanford C. Bernstein increasing their target to $286.00, while a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" remains.
• The company recently announced a quarterly dividend increase to $1.38 per share, reflecting an annualized dividend yield of 2.4%, up from its previous quarterly dividend of $1.34.

Essex Financial Services Inc. grew its position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 22.8% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 15,611 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 2,901 shares during the period. Essex Financial Services Inc.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $3,592,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Pines Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. Pines Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,520 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $595,000 after buying an additional 43 shares in the last quarter. Titleist Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.1% in the first quarter. Titleist Asset Management LLC now owns 4,004 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $946,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares during the period. First Financial Bank Trust Division increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Division now owns 2,803 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $662,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares during the period. Stiles Financial Services Inc raised its position in Union Pacific by 1.6% in 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 in the last quarter. Finally, Avalon Trust Co boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 5.1% in the 1st quarter. Avalon Trust Co now owns 1,004 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $237,000 after buying an additional 49 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on UNP. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $238.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Barclays downgraded shares of Union Pacific from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Sanford C. Bernstein raised their price target on Union Pacific from $271.00 to $286.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, July 21st. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price objective on Union Pacific from $257.00 to $276.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Finally, Robert W. Baird began coverage on Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. They set a "neutral" rating and a $231.00 target price on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $259.38.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of Union Pacific stock opened at $230.41 on Thursday. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $222.43 and its 200-day simple moving average is $224.76. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12 month low of $204.66 and a 12 month high of $256.84. The stock has a market capitalization of $136.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.02, a PEG ratio of 2.21 and a beta of 1.03. 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 (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, topping the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.43% and a return on equity of 41.73%. The company had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.74 EPS. Union Pacific's revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be issued a $1.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. This is an increase from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.4%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is presently 47.96%.

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.

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