Wills Financial Group Inc. Grows Stock Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Wills Financial Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 0.5% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 24,718 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 112 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific accounts for 2.6% of Wills Financial Group Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 12th largest holding. Wills Financial Group Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $6,093,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Fairhaven Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. Fairhaven Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,581 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $584,000 after purchasing an additional 43 shares in the last quarter. Chesapeake Wealth Management lifted its position in Union Pacific by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. Chesapeake Wealth Management now owns 8,202 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,856,000 after acquiring an additional 43 shares in the last quarter. Azzad Asset Management Inc. ADV boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter. Azzad Asset Management Inc. ADV now owns 8,384 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,897,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. Montecito Bank & Trust increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 0.4% in the 2nd quarter. Montecito Bank & Trust now owns 11,894 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,691,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Traveka Wealth LLC raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 3.4% in the third quarter. Traveka Wealth LLC now owns 1,357 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $335,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.1 %

NYSE UNP opened at $234.69 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $218.55 and a 12 month high of $258.66. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $239.43 and its 200 day moving average is $238.31. The stock has a market cap of $142.28 billion, a PE ratio of 21.55, a P/E/G ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.78 by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.14 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.79% and a net margin of 27.33%. Union Pacific’s revenue was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.51 EPS. Research analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 30th. Investors of record on Monday, December 9th will be paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.28%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 9th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is presently 49.22%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently commented on UNP shares. Barclays increased their price objective on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. TD Cowen cut their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $252.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Citigroup increased their price target on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $267.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $288.00 to $283.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $262.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $259.80.

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.