WBI Investments LLC Purchases Shares of 1,593 Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• WBI Investments LLC has acquired a new stake in Union Pacific Corporation ($UNP), purchasing 1,593 shares valued at approximately $376,000 in the first quarter.
• Union Pacific recently increased its quarterly dividend from $1.34 to $1.38 per share, yielding 2.6% annually, with the next payment scheduled for September 30th.
• Research firms have issued various ratings and price targets for Union Pacific, with analysts suggesting a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $258.21.

WBI Investments LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 1,593 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $376,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Titleist Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of 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 buying an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Division raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.7% in the first quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Division now owns 2,803 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $662,000 after buying an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. Stiles Financial Services Inc raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.6% in the first quarter. Stiles Financial Services Inc now owns 2,963 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $700,000 after buying an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. Avalon Trust Co increased its position in Union Pacific by 5.1% in the first quarter. Avalon Trust Co now owns 1,004 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $237,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the period. Finally, Mather Group LLC. increased its position in Union Pacific by 1.7% in the first quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 3,041 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $718,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Trading Up 0.6%

Union Pacific stock traded up $1.27 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $216.18. 4,483,833 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,484,925. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $224.46 and its 200-day simple moving average is $225.79. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86. The firm has a market capitalization of $128.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.78, a PEG ratio of 2.09 and a beta of 1.03. Union Pacific Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $204.66 and a fifty-two week high of $256.84.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly 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. The company had revenue of $6.15 billion during 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 company's revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.74 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts anticipate 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. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be issued a dividend of $1.38 per share. This is an increase from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.6%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is 47.96%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages recently commented on UNP. Raymond James Financial reiterated a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday, July 15th. Susquehanna lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $257.00 and set a "positive" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Sanford C. Bernstein lifted their price objective on Union Pacific from $271.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, July 21st. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $250.00 to $285.00 in a research report on Friday, July 25th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Union Pacific from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, July 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $258.25.

About Union Pacific

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.