Union Pacific Corporation $UNP Stock Position Raised by Community Trust & Investment Co.

Key Points

• Community Trust & Investment Co. increased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 14.8%, owning 18,362 shares valued at $4.23 million after acquiring additional shares in the 2nd quarter.
• Union Pacific recently reported earnings per share (EPS) of $3.03 for the last quarter, exceeding analysts' expectations, and projected annual EPS of 11.99.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend increase to $1.38, representing a dividend yield of 2.5% with a 47.96% payout ratio.

Community Trust & Investment Co. raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 14.8% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 18,362 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 2,370 shares during the period. Community Trust & Investment Co.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $4,225,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Two Sigma Advisers LP increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 5.8% in the fourth quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 43,701 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $9,966,000 after purchasing an additional 2,400 shares during the period. Vident Advisory LLC lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. Vident Advisory LLC now owns 14,093 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $3,214,000 after buying an additional 384 shares in the last quarter. Woodline Partners LP raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 75.9% during the 4th quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 80,349 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $18,323,000 after acquiring an additional 34,658 shares during the last quarter. Waverly Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 16.6% during the 4th quarter. Waverly Advisors LLC now owns 25,356 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $5,782,000 after acquiring an additional 3,606 shares during the last quarter. Finally, White Knight Strategic Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $309,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Price Performance

UNP stock opened at $217.19 on Thursday. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $223.27 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $225.45. The stock has a market capitalization of $128.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.87, a PEG ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a current ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $256.84.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results 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 business had revenue of $6.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.09 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.74 earnings per share. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be paid a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.5%. This is a boost from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is currently 47.96%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNP has been the subject of a number of research reports. Robert W. Baird initiated coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, July 1st. They set a "neutral" rating and a $231.00 target price for the company. UBS Group raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $238.00 to $240.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. Raymond James Financial reiterated a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $257.00 to $276.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. 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 company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $259.38.

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.

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