Union Pacific Corporation $UNP Shares Bought by Wealthfront Advisers LLC

Wealthfront Advisers LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 12.7% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 70,207 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 7,901 shares during the period. Wealthfront Advisers LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $19,096,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Capital World Investors increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 92.1% in the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 20,136,349 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $4,658,142,000 after acquiring an additional 9,655,306 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $1,779,907,000. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 72.7% during the third quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 9,177,002 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,169,168,000 after purchasing an additional 3,861,636 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 26.0% in the fourth quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,980,904 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,540,105,000 after purchasing an additional 2,267,708 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE increased its stake in Union Pacific by 16.8% in the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 14,463,071 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $3,509,030,000 after purchasing an additional 2,084,808 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UNP opened at $301.69 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $179.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.43, a P/E/G ratio of 3.05 and a beta of 0.96. Union Pacific Corporation has a twelve month low of $210.84 and a twelve month high of $315.99. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $284.87 and a two-hundred day moving average of $266.83. The company has a current ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.26 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $6.86 billion for 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 company’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $3.03 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Monday, August 31st will be paid a dividend of $1.42 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 31st. This represents a $5.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.9%. This is an increase from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 44.70%.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total transaction of $789,504.36. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 43,012 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $11,353,447.52. This trade represents a 6.50% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have weighed in on UNP. Barclays reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $350.00 price objective (up from $315.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, July 24th. Benchmark increased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $325.00 to $335.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, July 24th. UBS Group reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $310.00 price target (up from $286.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Stephens raised shares of Union Pacific to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 8th. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $320.89.

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.