Meeder Advisory Services Inc. Increases Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Meeder Advisory Services Inc. boosted its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 31.2% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 10,968 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,609 shares during the period. Meeder Advisory Services Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $2,482,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 3.5% in the second quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. now owns 38,585 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $8,730,000 after purchasing an additional 1,292 shares during the last quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 9.4% during the 2nd quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC now owns 3,839 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $869,000 after buying an additional 331 shares during the last quarter. Vest Financial LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 39.9% during the second quarter. Vest Financial LLC now owns 1,551 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $351,000 after buying an additional 442 shares in the last quarter. Trueblood Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 6.0% in the second quarter. Trueblood Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,747 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $395,000 after acquiring an additional 99 shares during the last quarter. Finally, PFG Advisors lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 0.9% in the second quarter. PFG Advisors now owns 18,373 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $4,157,000 after acquiring an additional 172 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.6 %

UNP opened at $248.93 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $151.65 billion, a PE ratio of 23.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.89, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 1.05. Union Pacific Co. has a 1 year low of $199.33 and a 1 year high of $258.66. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $242.52 and a 200 day moving average price of $239.31.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.71 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $6.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.05 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 26.90% and a return on equity of 42.62%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up .7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.57 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.11 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 30th will be given a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 30th. This is a positive change from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.15%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 51.15%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,552 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $246.59, for a total value of $875,887.68. Following the completion of the sale, the president now owns 64,945 shares in the company, valued at $16,014,787.55. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UNP has been the subject of several analyst reports. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 18th. Wells Fargo & Company initiated coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, June 7th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $270.00 price objective for the company. Daiwa America lowered shares of Union Pacific from a “moderate buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 4th. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. Finally, TD Cowen decreased their price objective on Union Pacific from $259.00 to $255.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 26th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $258.79.

About Union Pacific

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.