Rockland Trust Co. Buys 5,028 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Rockland Trust Co. increased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 3.1% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 168,916 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 5,028 shares during the period. Union Pacific comprises approximately 1.8% of Rockland Trust Co.’s portfolio, making the stock its 13th largest position. Rockland Trust Co.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $45,945,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 5.3% during the second quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. now owns 791 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $215,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Shulman DeMeo Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter valued at about $210,000. Chesley Taft & Associates LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.4% during the 2nd quarter. Chesley Taft & Associates LLC now owns 49,293 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $13,408,000 after buying an additional 678 shares in the last quarter. Trust Point Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 3.7% during the 2nd quarter. Trust Point Inc. now owns 5,503 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,497,000 after buying an additional 196 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Heartland Consultants Inc. lifted its position in Union Pacific by 13.1% in the 2nd quarter. First Heartland Consultants Inc. now owns 3,425 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $932,000 after buying an additional 398 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of Union Pacific stock opened at $292.98 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.82. Union Pacific Corporation has a one year low of $210.84 and a one year high of $315.99. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $280.13 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $262.83. The stock has a market capitalization of $174.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.02 and a beta of 0.96.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.26 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 38.46% and a net margin of 28.85%.The firm had revenue of $6.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.72 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.03 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.9 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNP has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Citigroup increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $326.00 to $349.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Stephens raised shares of Union Pacific to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $339.00 target price (up from $289.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, July 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $304.00 to $334.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Finally, TD Cowen restated a “buy” rating and set a $325.00 price target (up from $282.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $320.89.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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 value of $789,504.36. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 43,012 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $11,353,447.52. This trade represents a 6.50% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.22% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Union Pacific Company Profile

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.