Miracle Mile Advisors LLC Raises Stock Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Miracle Mile Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 1.7% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 46,909 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 780 shares during the quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $11,082,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Fiduciary Trust Co increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Fiduciary Trust Co now owns 102,213 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $23,309,000 after acquiring an additional 2,807 shares during the period. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $781,000. Pinnbrook Capital Management LP acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $3,954,000. Miramar Capital LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 3.1% in the 4th quarter. Miramar Capital LLC now owns 54,564 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $12,443,000 after acquiring an additional 1,648 shares during the period. Finally, Portfolio Design Labs LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 19.8% in the 4th quarter. Portfolio Design Labs LLC now owns 7,703 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,757,000 after acquiring an additional 1,273 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE:UNP opened at $223.39 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. Union Pacific Co. has a fifty-two week low of $204.66 and a fifty-two week high of $258.07. The stock has a market cap of $133.47 billion, a PE ratio of 20.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $220.25 and its 200-day simple moving average is $232.22.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.73 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. The company had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.11 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.69 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 30th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.40%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.29%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on UNP shares. Susquehanna cut their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 25th. Stifel Nicolaus cut their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 14th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. Stephens cut their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 28th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $263.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Monday, June 2nd. 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, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $257.74.

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.