Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC Purchases 18,453 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 12.8% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 162,314 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 18,453 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $38,345,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. EnRich Financial Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL grew its position in shares of 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 in the last quarter. Centricity Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $51,000. Midwest Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $54,000. Finally, VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $64,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on UNP shares. UBS Group cut their target price on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Redburn Atlantic upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, Stephens dropped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $257.74.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.2%

Shares of NYSE UNP traded up $0.34 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $222.35. The stock had a trading volume of 4,274,305 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,915,514. The company has a market capitalization of $132.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.05, a P/E/G ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 1.05. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $221.26 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $230.91. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $258.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 0.73.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.73 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.80% and a net margin of 27.76%. The company had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.11 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.69 earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, May 30th will be issued a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 30th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.41%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 48.29%.

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.