Topic: How To Invest

Dear Pat: I would appreciate your opinion on Union Pacific. Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Union Pacific Corp., $107.51, symbol UNP on New York (Shares outstanding: 881.3 million; Market cap: $94.1 billion; www.up.com), owns Union Pacific Railroad, the largest railroad in the U.S. by track miles and revenue. Union Pacific has nearly 31,974 route miles serving the western two-thirds of the country. The company’s revenue mix is as follows: industrial, 20%; intermodal (merchandise in containers hauled by ship, train and truck), 20%; coal, 18%; agricultural, 17%; chemicals, 16%; and automotive, 9%. In the three months ended December 31, 2014, Union Pacific’s revenue rose 9.3%, to $6.2 billion from $5.6 billion a year earlier. Earnings per share gained 26.6%, to $1.62 from $1.28, as the company raised its prices and improved its productivity. Union Pacific continues to see rising shipments across its business segments, particularly industrial products and coal. However it does face some challenges. For one, the rapid rise in volumes is pressuring its infrastructure. In response, it plans to hire more train, engine and yard workers, buy new…