Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) Shares Acquired by Wealthfront Advisers LLC

Wealthfront Advisers LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 18.6% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 65,423 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 10,278 shares during the quarter. Wealthfront Advisers LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $15,456,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Proficio Capital Partners LLC raised its position in Union Pacific by 46.1% during the fourth quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 2,211 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $504,000 after purchasing an additional 698 shares in the last quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 6,435 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,468,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. Cibc World Markets Corp raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 15.7% during the 4th quarter. Cibc World Markets Corp now owns 95,761 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $21,837,000 after buying an additional 13,024 shares in the last quarter. Flagship Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $120,000. Finally, Argent Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Union Pacific by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Argent Advisors Inc. now owns 6,737 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,536,000 after buying an additional 82 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UNP traded down $3.41 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $227.77. 3,170,216 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,737,705. The firm has a market cap of $136.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.32 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1-year low of $204.66 and a 1-year high of $258.07. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $227.14 and a 200-day simple moving average of $231.18.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share (EPS) 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 business had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.11 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.69 EPS. The company's revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 29th will be issued a dividend of $1.38 per share. This is a boost from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.42%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is currently 48.29%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. Redburn Atlantic upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 price target for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. Sanford C. Bernstein restated an "outperform" rating and set a $271.00 target price (up previously from $267.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. Susquehanna raised Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "positive" rating and raised their price target for the stock from $245.00 to $260.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 24th. Bank of America boosted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Finally, Baird R W raised shares of Union Pacific to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $257.13.

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.