Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC Acquires 2,929 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 2.6% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 115,384 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,929 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $28,376,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Silver Oak Advisory Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $219,000. Allegheny Financial Group LTD increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 22.5% in the 4th quarter. Allegheny Financial Group LTD now owns 10,885 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,674,000 after buying an additional 2,000 shares in the last quarter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $238,000. Nordea Investment Management AB increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 46.9% in the 4th quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 87,905 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $21,596,000 after buying an additional 28,052 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Procyon Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 48.3% in the 4th quarter. Procyon Advisors LLC now owns 18,512 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $4,547,000 after purchasing an additional 6,031 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Benchmark upped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $266.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 10th. Susquehanna reduced their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $250.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, June 7th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $270.00 price objective for the company. Stifel Nicolaus upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $248.00 to $267.00 in a research note on Friday, May 3rd. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 18th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $258.92.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UNP traded down $0.14 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $223.47. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 1,815,024 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,305,673. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 0.93. Union Pacific Co. has a fifty-two week low of $199.33 and a fifty-two week high of $258.66. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $233.55 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $240.40. The company has a market cap of $136.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.45, a P/E/G ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.69 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.50 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a net margin of 26.52% and a return on equity of 44.34%. The company had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.97 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.67 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down .4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.25 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 31st will be given a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 31st. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.33%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 49.62%.

Union Pacific Profile

Union Pacific Corporation, through its subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad Company, operates in the railroad business in the United States. The company offers transportation services for grain and grain products, fertilizers, food and refrigerated products, and coal and renewables to grain processors, animal feeders, ethanol producers, renewable biofuel producers, and other agricultural users; and construction products, industrial chemicals, plastics, forest products, specialized products, metals and ores, petroleum, liquid petroleum gases, soda ash, and sand, as well as finished automobiles, automotive parts, and merchandise in intermodal containers.