Centric Wealth Management Boosts Stock Position in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Centric Wealth Management increased its position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 116.4% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 27,680 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 14,888 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific makes up about 1.2% of Centric Wealth Management’s holdings, making the stock its 20th biggest holding. Centric Wealth Management’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $7,782,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of UNP. Capital World Investors boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 92.1% during the fourth quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 20,136,349 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $4,658,142,000 after buying an additional 9,655,306 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new position in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth about $1,779,907,000. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 72.7% in the 3rd 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 acquiring an additional 3,861,636 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 26.0% in the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,980,904 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,540,105,000 after acquiring an additional 2,267,708 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 16.8% in the 1st 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 acquiring an additional 2,084,808 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNP opened at $300.06 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $178.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $283.63 and a 200-day moving average price of $265.84. 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 Corporation has a 12 month low of $210.84 and a 12 month high of $315.99.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 EPS for the quarter, topping 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 company had revenue of $6.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.72 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $3.03 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 11.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.93 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

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

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred 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 sale, the executive vice president owned 43,012 shares in the company, valued at $11,353,447.52. This represents a 6.50% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UNP has been the subject of a number of research reports. Stephens raised shares of Union Pacific to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $311.00 to $344.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, July 27th. Raymond James Financial reiterated a “strong-buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Monday, July 13th. Finally, Citizens Jmp began coverage on Union Pacific in a research note on Wednesday, July 15th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $350.00 target price on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $320.89.

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.