Union Pacific Corporation $UNP Stock: Center for Financial Planning Inc. Boosts Holdings

Center for Financial Planning Inc. lifted its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 36.1% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 6,483 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,719 shares during the period. Center for Financial Planning Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,764,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of UNP. Park Avenue Securities LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 7.8% in the third quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 37,793 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $10,285,000 after buying an additional 2,719 shares during the last quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 6.0% during the third quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 15,296 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $4,163,000 after buying an additional 869 shares during the last quarter. Patton Albertson Miller Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 0.8% during the third quarter. Patton Albertson Miller Group LLC now owns 22,139 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $6,025,000 after buying an additional 178 shares during the last quarter. Miller Howard Investments Inc. NY grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.9% during the third quarter. Miller Howard Investments Inc. NY now owns 32,673 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $8,891,000 after buying an additional 616 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Deroy & Devereaux Private Investment Counsel Inc. increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 83.0% in the 3rd quarter. Deroy & Devereaux Private Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 1,446 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $393,000 after acquiring an additional 656 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on UNP. Erste Group Bank assumed coverage on Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday, August 27th. They issued a “buy” rating for the company. Bank of America lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $301.00 to $334.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Raymond James Financial reiterated a “strong-buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday. Citigroup reissued a “market outperform” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday. Finally, TD Cowen reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $328.00 price objective (up from $325.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $325.78.

Union Pacific Trading Up 1.4%

Shares of Union Pacific stock opened at $296.82 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $176.39 billion, a PE ratio of 23.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.95. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $287.48 and a 200 day moving average price of $268.29. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1 year low of $215.53 and a 1 year high of $315.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32, a current ratio of 1.16 and a quick ratio of 0.99.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 22nd. The railroad operator reported $3.53 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.47 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $7.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.16 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.90% and a return on equity of 37.54%. The firm’s revenue was up 15.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $3.08 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 13.13 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 31st were issued a $1.42 dividend. This is a boost from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 31st. This represents a $5.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.9%. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is presently 44.27%.

Union Pacific Company Profile

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is a transportation company that operates one of the largest freight railroad networks in the United States. Through its Union Pacific Railroad subsidiary, the company moves goods across the western two-thirds of the country, connecting major agricultural, industrial, energy, population and port markets.

Union Pacific transports a broad range of commodities and products, including agricultural goods, automotive shipments, chemicals, coal, industrial products, forest products and intermodal containers.