Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Hits New 1-Year High Following Dividend Announcement

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

The newly announced dividend which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors 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 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.2%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.12%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms recently commented on UNP. Citigroup reissued a “buy” rating and set a $270.00 price objective (up previously from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Raymond James Financial reiterated a “strong-buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $280.00 price objective on Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday, December 18th. Barclays reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $285.00 price objective (up from $270.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $245.00 target price on Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, December 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $258.32.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.6%

The company has a market cap of $150.02 billion, a PE ratio of 21.13, a P/E/G ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 0.98. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $233.86 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $227.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.60.

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

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Union Pacific

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Acadian Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 40.4% in the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 2,312 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $546,000 after purchasing an additional 665 shares during the last quarter. Sax Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 22.0% in the 2nd quarter. Sax Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,651 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $380,000 after buying an additional 298 shares during the period. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.9% during the 2nd quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 29,068 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $6,688,000 after acquiring an additional 539 shares during the last quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 5.3% during the 2nd quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLC now owns 4,484 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,032,000 after acquiring an additional 224 shares during the period. Finally, Callan Family Office LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 75.6% during the 2nd quarter. Callan Family Office LLC now owns 22,030 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $5,069,000 after acquiring an additional 9,484 shares during the period. 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.