Stiles Financial Services Inc, an institutional investor, has recently acquired a new stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP), according to a disclosure filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. During the second quarter of this year, Stiles Financial bought 979 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, worth an estimated $200,000.
Union Pacific Co., a prominent player in the transportation industry, has been making updates to its dividend policy. The company recently announced a quarterly dividend payment which was made on September 29th. Shareholders of record as of August 31st received a dividend payout of $1.30 per share. On an annualized basis, this equates to a dividend of $5.20 and offers shareholders a yield of approximately 2.57%. It is important to note that the ex-dividend date for this payment was August 30th.
Union Pacific’s payout ratio currently stands at 47.45%, indicating that nearly half of its earnings are distributed to shareholders as dividends. This is significant information for investors who rely on consistent dividend payments when considering investment options.
The move by Stiles Financial Services Inc to purchase shares in Union Pacific Co. demonstrates confidence in the railroad operator’s future prospects. While it is always essential for investors to conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions, it may be helpful for interested parties to refer to our latest research report on UNP for further insight into the company.
As we embrace October 2023, it remains critical for both institutional and individual investors alike to stay informed about market trends and developments concerning companies such as Union Pacific Co., as these factors can significantly impact investment decisions and performance outcomes over time.
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Union Pacific Attracts Hedge Funds and Analysts’ Favorable Ratings Despite Earnings Miss
In recent news, several hedge funds and institutional investors have made adjustments to their stakes in Union Pacific, the railroad operator. Miller Wealth Advisors LLC saw an increase of 108.3% in its position during the first quarter, now owning 125 shares worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares. Tucker Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake worth $26,000 during the same period, while NewSquare Capital LLC saw a growth of 116.7% in its holdings, now owning 130 shares valued at $26,000. Power Corp of Canada also acquired a new position worth $40,000 during the first quarter. Additionally, Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. purchased a new position in the fourth quarter for $32,000. It is worth noting that hedge funds and other institutional investors currently own 77.36% of Union Pacific’s stock.
A number of research analysts have weighed in on Union Pacific. Royal Bank of Canada set a price target of $282.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in September. Benchmark raised their price target from $230 to $264 in July, while Wells Fargo & Company increased theirs from $200 to $245 during the same period. On the other hand, Bank of America reduced their target price from $265 to $257 but maintained a “buy” rating for Union Pacific’s stock in September. Stifel Nicolaus also raised their price target from $216 to $223 in July.
As it stands now, twelve analysts have rated Union Pacific’s stock as hold, fourteen as buy, and one as strong buy according to data from Bloomberg. The consensus rating is labeled as “Moderate Buy” with a consensus target price of $233.69.
On Tuesday morning, Union Pacific opened at $202.65 on the NYSE (New York Stock Exchange). The company has seen a 1-year low of $183.69 and a 1-year high of $240.48. Union Pacific’s financials show a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.39, a current ratio of 0.71, and a quick ratio of 0.57. With a market capitalization of $123.51 billion, the company has a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.49 and a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.96. Its beta is reported to be 1.12, while its 50-day simple moving average stands at $219.99 and its 200-day simple moving average at $206.97.
In terms of recent earnings data, Union Pacific reported $2.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter ended on July 26th, which fell short of the consensus estimate by ($0.18). Despite this, the company still achieved a net margin of 27.18% and a return on equity of 55.03%. Revenue for the quarter amounted to $5.96 billion compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.09 billion, indicating a decrease of 4.9% year over year.
Looking ahead, equities research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific will post an EPS (earnings per share) of 10.4 for the current fiscal year.
Overall, Union Pacific continues to attract hedge funds and other institutional investors while garnering favorable ratings from research analysts in its industry. Despite missing expectations in recent earnings reports, the company remains optimistic about its future performance in both revenue and stock value
