Nicola Wealth Management LTD. Sells 600 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Nicola Wealth Management LTD. lessened its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 0.7% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 84,200 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 600 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific accounts for approximately 1.9% of Nicola Wealth Management LTD.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 15th biggest holding. Nicola Wealth Management LTD.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $19,891,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. eCIO Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the first quarter worth $178,000. Cim LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 6.5% in the first quarter. Cim LLC now owns 9,293 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,195,000 after purchasing an additional 566 shares in the last quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1,400.0% in the first quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 120 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares in the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 28.9% in the first quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 160,403 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $37,305,000 after purchasing an additional 35,982 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Anderson Financial Strategies LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the first quarter worth $120,000. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.4%

UNP opened at $215.96 on Friday. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1-year low of $204.66 and a 1-year high of $256.84. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $224.89 and its 200 day simple moving average is $226.27. The company has a current ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86. The stock has a market cap of $128.08 billion, a PE ratio of 18.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.09 and a beta of 1.03.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.84 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.73% and a net margin of 28.43%.The business had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.09 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.74 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 29th will be paid a $1.38 dividend. This is a boost from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.6%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 47.96%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently commented on UNP shares. Baird R W raised shares of Union Pacific to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $257.00 to $276.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $263.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Monday, June 2nd. Bank of America upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their price target for the stock from $250.00 to $285.00 in a research report on Friday, July 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $258.21.

Union Pacific Profile

Union Pacific Corporation, through its subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad Company, operates in the railroad business in the United States. The company offers transportation services for grain and grain products, fertilizers, food and refrigerated products, and coal and renewables to grain processors, animal feeders, ethanol producers, renewable biofuel producers, and other agricultural users; and construction products, industrial chemicals, plastics, forest products, specialized products, metals and ores, petroleum, liquid petroleum gases, soda ash, and sand, as well as finished automobiles, automotive parts, and merchandise in intermodal containers.