Vista Investment Partners LLC Buys 2,375 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Vista Investment Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 123.7% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 4,295 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 2,375 shares during the quarter. Vista Investment Partners LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,168,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Cambient Family Office LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $1,319,000. First National Bank of Omaha increased its position in Union Pacific by 35.8% in the fourth quarter. First National Bank of Omaha now owns 54,635 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $12,665,000 after buying an additional 14,399 shares during the last quarter. North Dakota State Investment Board purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth $4,746,000. Sage Investment Advisers LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $997,000. Finally, Truist Financial Corp raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 3.1% in the fourth quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 1,016,071 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $235,038,000 after buying an additional 30,079 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UNP opened at $292.98 on Monday. 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 Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $210.84 and a fifty-two week high of $315.99. The stock has a market cap of $174.05 billion, a PE ratio of 23.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.96. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $280.13 and a 200-day moving average of $263.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.26 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $6.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.72 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 38.46% and a net margin of 28.85%.The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 11.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.03 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.9 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 31st will be given a $1.42 dividend. This represents a $5.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.9%. This is an increase from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 31st. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 44.70%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total transaction of $789,504.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 43,012 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $11,353,447.52. The trade was a 6.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently weighed in on UNP. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on Union Pacific from $311.00 to $344.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, July 27th. Barclays restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $350.00 price objective (up from $315.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $339.00 price objective (up from $289.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, July 24th. Evercore reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $294.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, June 25th. Finally, Susquehanna lifted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $305.00 to $333.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $320.89.

Union Pacific Company 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.