UNIVEST FINANCIAL Corp Grows Stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Key Points

• UNIVEST FINANCIAL Corp increased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 44.0%, acquiring an additional 4,380 shares, bringing its total holdings to 14,339 shares valued at approximately $3,387,000.
• Union Pacific recently reported strong earnings, with earnings per share of $3.03, surpassing analyst estimates of $2.84 and achieving a year-over-year revenue growth of 2.4%.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend increase to $1.38 per share, reflecting a positive change from its previous dividend and a yield of 2.5%.

UNIVEST FINANCIAL Corp increased its position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 44.0% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 14,339 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 4,380 shares during the period. UNIVEST FINANCIAL Corp's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $3,387,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Highline Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in Union Pacific by 103.5% during the first quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 116 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in Union Pacific during the first quarter worth $32,000. EnRich Financial Partners LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $31,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL raised its stake in 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 buying an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cornerstone Planning Group LLC raised its stake in Union Pacific by 50.5% during the first quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 167 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 56 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Down 1.2%

Union Pacific stock traded down $2.66 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $219.31. 4,637,305 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,972,172. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $258.07. The stock has a market capitalization of $130.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 1.06. The business's 50-day moving average price is $227.04 and its 200-day moving average price is $230.86. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 earnings per share 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 for 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 firm's revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be paid a $1.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. This is a positive change from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.5%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is presently 46.57%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on UNP. UBS Group lifted their target price 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. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 7th. Barclays downgraded Union Pacific from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Wednesday. Baird R W upgraded Union Pacific to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 14th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average 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.