Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) Raises Dividend to $1.42 Per Share

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) announced a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, July 29th. Investors of record on Monday, August 31st will be given a dividend of 1.42 per share by the railroad operator on Wednesday, September 30th. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 31st. This is a 2.9% increase from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.38.

Union Pacific has increased its dividend by an average of 0.1%per year over the last three years and has increased its dividend every year for the last 18 years. Union Pacific has a dividend payout ratio of 43.1% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities analysts expect Union Pacific to earn $13.86 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $5.52 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 39.8%.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.6%

NYSE UNP opened at $292.55 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. Union Pacific has a 52 week low of $210.84 and a 52 week high of $315.99. The firm has a market capitalization of $173.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.69, a PEG ratio of 3.01 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a fifty day moving average of $276.61 and a two-hundred day moving average of $259.90.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.26 by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $6.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.72 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.85% and a return on equity of 38.46%. The business’s revenue was up 11.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $3.03 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Union Pacific will post 12.9 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In other news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total value of $789,504.36. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 43,012 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $11,353,447.52. The trade was a 6.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.22% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Union Pacific

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of UNP. Key Financial Inc lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 2.1% during the first quarter. Key Financial Inc now owns 1,821 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $442,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Members Trust Co grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 2.5% in the first quarter. Members Trust Co now owns 1,573 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $382,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. EJMK Ventures LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 4.0% during the 1st quarter. EJMK Ventures LLC now owns 1,016 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $247,000 after buying an additional 39 shares during the period. Wealthquest Corp increased its stake in Union Pacific by 3.7% during the 1st quarter. Wealthquest Corp now owns 1,108 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $269,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the period. Finally, Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 5.3% during the 2nd quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. now owns 791 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $215,000 after buying an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Union Pacific

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services.

Union Pacific’s core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western two‑thirds of the United States.