Alaethes Wealth LLC Raises Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Alaethes Wealth LLC grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 2.9% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 6,390 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 178 shares during the quarter. Alaethes Wealth LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,446,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Capital Research Global Investors boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 23.1% during the fourth quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 6,851,767 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,682,931,000 after purchasing an additional 1,285,144 shares during the period. Winslow Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at $293,162,000. Capital World Investors boosted its position in Union Pacific by 35.3% during the 1st quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 4,118,477 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,012,857,000 after buying an additional 1,073,625 shares during the period. TD Asset Management Inc grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 115.3% in the 4th quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 1,070,123 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $262,844,000 after acquiring an additional 573,072 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Junto Capital Management LP purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at about $123,297,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP opened at $245.39 on Friday. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $199.33 and a 52 week high of $258.66. The company has a quick ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.89. The stock has a market cap of $149.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.42, a P/E/G ratio of 2.24 and a beta of 1.05. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $245.45 and its 200-day moving average price is $239.17.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings results 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. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 42.62% and a net margin of 26.90%. The firm had revenue of $6.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.05 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.57 EPS. Union Pacific’s quarterly revenue was up .7% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 30th will be issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. This is a boost from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 30th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.18%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 51.15%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNP has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Loop Capital lowered shares of Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $276.00 to $238.00 in a report on Monday, June 17th. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 17th. Wells Fargo & Company initiated coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Friday, June 7th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $270.00 target price for the company. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $275.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday. Finally, Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $290.00 to $280.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, July 26th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $258.79.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Union Pacific news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,552 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $246.59, for a total transaction of $875,887.68. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 64,945 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,014,787.55. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.28% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.