Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas Acquires 2,470 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 126,076 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,470 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific comprises approximately 1.8% of Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas’ holdings, making the stock its 27th biggest position. Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas’ holdings in Union Pacific were worth $36,441,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Lmcg Investments LLC raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 12.1% during the 3rd quarter. Lmcg Investments LLC now owns 39,645 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $10,789,000 after buying an additional 4,286 shares in the last quarter. Diligent Investors LLC grew its position in Union Pacific by 18.9% in the third quarter. Diligent Investors LLC now owns 2,179 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $593,000 after buying an additional 347 shares during the last quarter. Magnus Financial Group LLC grew its position in Union Pacific by 0.7% in the third quarter. Magnus Financial Group LLC now owns 6,358 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,730,000 after buying an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. Kings Path Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the third quarter valued at $40,000. Finally, Sowell Financial Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 9.4% during the 3rd quarter. Sowell Financial Services LLC now owns 7,847 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,135,000 after acquiring an additional 676 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE:UNP opened at $287.85 on Thursday. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52-week low of $215.53 and a 52-week high of $315.99. The company has a market cap of $171.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.31, a PEG ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.95. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $287.41 and its 200-day moving average is $277.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.99.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.26 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $6.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.72 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 38.46% and a net margin of 28.85%. Union Pacific’s revenue was up 11.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $3.03 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 13.05 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Monday, August 31st were given a dividend of $1.42 per share. This is a boost from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 31st. This represents a $5.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is 45.99%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have issued reports on UNP. Wells Fargo & Company restated an “overweight” rating and set a $335.00 price objective (up from $315.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, July 24th. Weiss Ratings raised Union Pacific from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research note on Friday, October 9th. Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $311.00 to $344.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Stephens raised Union Pacific to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 8th. Finally, Bank of America lifted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $301.00 to $334.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $325.00.

About Union Pacific

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.