AQR Capital Management LLC Grows Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

AQR Capital Management LLC grew its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 7.8% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 185,886 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 13,410 shares during the quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $42,389,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Allred Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 0.5% during the fourth quarter. Allred Capital Management LLC now owns 8,349 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,904,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares during the period. Palogic Value Management L.P. grew its stake in Union Pacific by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Palogic Value Management L.P. now owns 2,823 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $644,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares in the last quarter. Roble Belko & Company Inc increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 26.8% during the 4th quarter. Roble Belko & Company Inc now owns 213 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $49,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the period. Pflug Koory LLC boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Pflug Koory LLC now owns 8,569 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,954,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the period. Finally, Baron Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 3.3% during the fourth quarter. Baron Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,409 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $321,000 after buying an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UNP traded up $0.06 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $213.26. The company had a trading volume of 2,069,830 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,591,407. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. Union Pacific Co. has a twelve month low of $204.66 and a twelve month high of $258.07. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $227.40 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $234.26. The stock has a market capitalization of $127.42 billion, a PE ratio of 19.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.73 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.11 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. The company's revenue for the quarter was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.69 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were issued a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.51%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.29%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have weighed in on UNP. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Benchmark increased their price objective on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. UBS Group dropped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. Finally, Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $257.86.

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.