Simplicity Wealth LLC Acquires 1,825 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Simplicity Wealth LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 24.1% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 9,413 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,825 shares during the quarter. Simplicity Wealth LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $2,560,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of UNP. Acadian Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 40.4% during the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 2,312 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $546,000 after acquiring an additional 665 shares during the period. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 20,606 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $4,741,000 after purchasing an additional 102 shares during the last quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.6% in the 2nd quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC now owns 3,733 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $859,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares during the last quarter. HUB Investment Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 10.0% during the second quarter. HUB Investment Partners LLC now owns 6,091 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,401,000 after purchasing an additional 554 shares during the period. Finally, Alliancebernstein L.P. grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 7.4% during the second quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 1,528,426 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $351,660,000 after purchasing an additional 105,664 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total transaction of $789,504.36. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 43,012 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $11,353,447.52. This represents a 6.50% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of Union Pacific stock opened at $299.10 on Wednesday. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $284.18 and its 200 day simple moving average is $266.34. The company has a current ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. The company has a market capitalization of $177.69 billion, a PE ratio of 24.22, a PEG ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.96. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12 month low of $210.84 and a 12 month high of $315.99.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.26 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 38.46% and a net margin of 28.85%.The firm had revenue of $6.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.72 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $3.03 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 11.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.93 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have weighed in on UNP shares. Susquehanna increased their target price on Union Pacific from $305.00 to $333.00 and gave the company a “positive” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. UBS Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $310.00 price target (up from $286.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Stephens upgraded shares of Union Pacific to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 8th. BMO Capital Markets reissued a “market perform” rating and set a $320.00 price objective (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $326.00 to $349.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $320.89.

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.