Synergy Asset Management LLC Acquires 3,178 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Synergy Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 26.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 15,196 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,178 shares during the period. Synergy Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $3,438,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Slocum Gordon & Co LLP boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.8% in the second quarter. Slocum Gordon & Co LLP now owns 4,637 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,049,000 after purchasing an additional 128 shares during the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.1% during the 2nd quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 176,778 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $39,998,000 after buying an additional 1,844 shares during the period. MCF Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 5.5% in the 2nd quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 4,555 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,031,000 after buying an additional 238 shares during the last quarter. Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KS grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 0.3% in the second quarter. Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KS now owns 29,085 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $6,581,000 after acquiring an additional 94 shares during the period. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI increased its position in Union Pacific by 12.9% during the second quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 283,965 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $63,815,000 after acquiring an additional 32,352 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have issued reports on UNP shares. Loop Capital cut Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $276.00 to $238.00 in a research report on Monday, June 17th. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $290.00 to $280.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 26th. Susquehanna reduced their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $250.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, June 25th. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, July 17th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 18th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $258.79.

Insider Activity

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,552 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $246.59, for a total value of $875,887.68. Following the sale, the president now owns 64,945 shares in the company, valued at $16,014,787.55. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

NYSE UNP traded up $1.66 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $253.19. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 70,882 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,254,812. Union Pacific Co. has a 1 year low of $199.33 and a 1 year high of $258.66. The company has a quick ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.89. The company has a market capitalization of $154.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.00, a PEG ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 1.05. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $240.09 and its 200-day moving average price is $239.36.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.74 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.71 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $6.01 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.05 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 26.90% and a return on equity of 42.62%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up .7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.57 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.11 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 30th will be issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.12%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 30th. This is an increase from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is 51.15%.

About Union Pacific

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.