Lowe Brockenbrough & Co. Inc. Increases Stock Position in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Lowe Brockenbrough & Co. Inc. boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 27.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 10,348 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 2,222 shares during the quarter. Lowe Brockenbrough & Co. Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $2,446,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Howard Hughes Medical Institute purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the second quarter valued at $30,000. Total Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the second quarter worth about $31,000. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter worth about $31,000. Access Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the 2nd quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Sagard Holdings Management Inc. purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the 2nd quarter valued at about $33,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Raymond James Financial reiterated a “strong-buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $265.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. TD Cowen cut their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $257.00 to $255.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $267.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded Union Pacific from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research note on Friday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $258.32.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE UNP opened at $252.92 on Friday. Union Pacific Corporation has a twelve month low of $204.66 and a twelve month high of $253.29. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $233.86 and its 200 day moving average price is $227.42. The company has a market capitalization of $150.02 billion, a PE ratio of 21.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.98. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.92 by ($0.06). Union Pacific had a net margin of 29.12% and a return on equity of 40.89%. The business had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.15 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.91 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was down .6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be given a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 46.12%.

Union Pacific Profile

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.