Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC Buys 2,115 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 17.2% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 14,428 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 2,115 shares during the quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $3,501,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of UNP. Cambient Family Office LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,319,000. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1,581.2% in the third quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. now owns 232,000 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $54,838,000 after purchasing an additional 218,200 shares during the period. North Dakota State Investment Board bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth $4,746,000. First National Bank of Omaha raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 35.8% in the fourth quarter. First National Bank of Omaha now owns 54,635 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $12,665,000 after buying an additional 14,399 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Avanza Fonder AB purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth $1,449,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Kenyatta G. Rocker sold 27,387 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $271.76, for a total value of $7,442,691.12. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 61,102 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $16,605,079.52. This represents a 30.95% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total transaction of $789,504.36. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 43,012 shares in the company, valued at $11,353,447.52. The trade was a 6.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last three months, insiders have sold 32,378 shares of company stock valued at $8,781,595. Corporate insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNP has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Evercore restated an “outperform” rating and set a $294.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday. Raymond James Financial set a $310.00 price target on Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their price objective on Union Pacific from $289.00 to $293.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, March 31st. Wells Fargo & Company restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $300.00 price objective (up from $260.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. Finally, Benchmark raised their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $300.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, April 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $283.11.

Union Pacific Stock Up 2.9%

Shares of NYSE:UNP opened at $267.61 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $158.88 billion, a PE ratio of 22.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 0.92. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52-week low of $210.84 and a 52-week high of $279.70. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $264.62 and a 200 day moving average of $250.68.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.93 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.86 by $0.07. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 39.58% and a net margin of 29.20%.The business had revenue of $6.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.12 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.70 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.55 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 29th will be given a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 29th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is 45.47%.

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.