Benjamin Edwards Inc. Buys 2,448 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Benjamin Edwards Inc. grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 10.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 25,920 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,448 shares during the quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $6,127,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,856,340,000. Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 0.7% in the second quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 6,398,715 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,472,217,000 after buying an additional 46,436 shares in the last quarter. Amundi grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 35.6% during the second quarter. Amundi now owns 4,782,577 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,134,236,000 after buying an additional 1,255,231 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 32.8% during the second quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 3,152,042 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $725,222,000 after acquiring an additional 778,411 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 22,618.2% in the 2nd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,624,636 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $603,876,000 after acquiring an additional 2,613,083 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have commented on UNP shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $267.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, October 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $263.00 price target on Union Pacific and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Susquehanna reaffirmed a “positive” rating and set a $272.00 price objective (up from $257.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, September 25th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $245.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, Barclays reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $285.00 price target (up from $270.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and twelve have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $259.46.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE:UNP opened at $228.30 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $135.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.40, a P/E/G ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a current ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.75. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $256.84. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $229.76 and a 200 day moving average price of $227.21.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.08 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.99 by $0.09. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.73% and a return on equity of 42.23%. The firm had revenue of $6.24 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.24 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.75 earnings per share. Union Pacific’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 5th were given a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 5th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 46.90%.

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.