Evanson Financial LLC Takes $657,000 Position in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Evanson Financial LLC bought 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 and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 2,416 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $657,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in UNP. Foster Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 8.0% during the 2nd quarter. Foster Group Inc. now owns 1,805 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $491,000 after purchasing an additional 134 shares during the last quarter. Balefire LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 15.7% during the second quarter. Balefire LLC now owns 1,110 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $302,000 after buying an additional 151 shares in the last quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.2% during the second quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 16,355 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $4,449,000 after buying an additional 198 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 20.6% in the second quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 16,582 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $4,510,000 after acquiring an additional 2,829 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Grant Private Wealth Management Inc acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $208,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total transaction of $789,504.36. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 43,012 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $11,353,447.52. This trade represents a 6.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.22% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP stock opened at $292.98 on Friday. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12-month low of $210.84 and a 12-month high of $315.99. The firm has a market capitalization of $174.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.02 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $280.13 and a 200-day moving average of $262.83.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.26 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $6.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.72 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.85% and a return on equity of 38.46%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 11.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $3.03 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.9 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

UNP has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Barclays restated an “overweight” rating and set a $350.00 price target (up from $315.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on Union Pacific from $326.00 to $349.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, July 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Union Pacific from $304.00 to $334.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. TD Cowen restated a “buy” rating and set a $325.00 target price (up from $282.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, July 24th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets restated a “market perform” rating and issued a $320.00 target price (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target 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.