Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Sets New 12-Month High – Here’s Why

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) shares hit a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $276.50 and last traded at $277.67, with a volume of 718240 shares. The stock had previously closed at $271.10.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have commented on the company. Raymond James Financial set a $310.00 price objective on Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $282.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, April 24th. Citigroup reissued a “buy” rating and set a $307.00 price objective (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. Weiss Ratings raised Union Pacific from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 21st. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their price objective on Union Pacific from $289.00 to $293.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, March 31st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $280.47.

Union Pacific Trading Up 2.8%

The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $254.81 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $244.69. The firm has a market capitalization of $165.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.82 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53, a current ratio of 0.92 and a quick ratio of 0.73.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.93 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.86 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $6.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.12 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 39.58% and a net margin of 29.20%.Union Pacific’s revenue was up 3.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.70 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, May 29th will be given a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 29th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 45.47%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.70, for a total value of $549,400.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 114,642 shares in the company, valued at approximately $31,492,157.40. This trade represents a 1.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Kenyatta G. Rocker sold 27,387 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, April 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $271.76, for a total value of $7,442,691.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 61,102 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,605,079.52. This represents a 30.95% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 31,386 shares of company stock worth $8,461,716. Corporate insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Summit Financial Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 4.4% in the first quarter. Summit Financial Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,589 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $628,000 after acquiring an additional 109 shares during the last quarter. Axiom Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the first quarter valued at about $9,151,000. GKV Capital Management Co. Inc. bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the first quarter valued at about $236,000. Groupe la Francaise grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 5.3% during the first quarter. Groupe la Francaise now owns 1,730 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $420,000 after buying an additional 87 shares during the last quarter. Finally, SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 0.5% during the first quarter. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. now owns 9,641 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,339,000 after buying an additional 52 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

About Union Pacific

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services.

Union Pacific’s core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western two‑thirds of the United States.