Visionary Wealth Advisors Takes Position in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Visionary Wealth Advisors acquired a new position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 4,737 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $1,288,000.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Cullen Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter worth $41,440,000. Whalen Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the 2nd quarter valued at about $344,000. Dearborn Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the second quarter valued at about $9,000,000. Trail Ridge Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the second quarter valued at about $1,204,000. Finally, Ames National Corp purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the second quarter valued at about $1,085,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Benchmark lifted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $325.00 to $335.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $326.00 to $349.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $339.00 price objective (up from $289.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Union Pacific from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a report on Friday, July 24th. Finally, Citizens Jmp began coverage on Union Pacific in a research report on Wednesday, July 15th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $350.00 target price on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $320.89.

Union Pacific Price Performance

UNP stock opened at $309.83 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $287.14 and a 200-day moving average of $268.31. The firm has a market capitalization of $184.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.14 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. The company has a current ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.26 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.85% and a return on equity of 38.46%. The business had revenue of $6.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.72 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.03 EPS. Union Pacific’s revenue was up 11.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal 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. This represents a $5.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.8%. This is a boost 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 45.99%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total value of $789,504.36. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 43,012 shares in the company, valued at $11,353,447.52. This represents a 6.50% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.22% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

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.