Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Sets New 52-Week High Following Dividend Announcement

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) reached a new 52-week high on Friday after the company announced a dividend. The stock traded as high as $253.29 and last traded at $252.92, with a volume of 3569499 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $251.45.

The newly announced dividend which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be paid a $1.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.2%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 46.12%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on UNP shares. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $267.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $265.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. BMO Capital Markets set a $255.00 price target on Union Pacific in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Susquehanna reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Monday, January 19th. Finally, TD Cowen cut their target price 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. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have issued a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $258.32.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

The stock’s fifty day moving average is $233.45 and its two-hundred day moving average is $227.25. The firm has a market cap of $150.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.13, a PEG ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.91.

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

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Union Pacific

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Acadian Asset Management LLC raised its position in Union Pacific by 40.4% during the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 2,312 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $546,000 after acquiring an additional 665 shares in the last quarter. SteelPeak Wealth LLC lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 5.8% in the 2nd quarter. SteelPeak Wealth LLC now owns 2,287 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $526,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares during the last quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 4.1% in the second quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,729 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $858,000 after purchasing an additional 147 shares in the last quarter. Sax Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 22.0% during the second quarter. Sax Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,651 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $380,000 after buying an additional 298 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bar Harbor Wealth Management increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.3% during the 2nd quarter. Bar Harbor Wealth Management now owns 46,436 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $10,684,000 after acquiring an additional 590 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

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.