Aspire Growth Partners LLC Takes Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Aspire Growth Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 2,264 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $516,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Compass Financial Services Inc acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at about $29,000. EnRich Financial Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $31,000. PrairieView Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 38.8% in the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have weighed in on the stock. Guggenheim boosted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Loop Capital cut Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $265.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Robert W. Baird raised their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Citigroup upgraded Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $260.00 to $244.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $257.86.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Union Pacific stock traded down $3.26 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $213.27. The company had a trading volume of 2,264,258 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,592,906. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $258.07. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. The firm has a market cap of $127.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.23, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a 50 day moving average of $228.04 and a 200-day moving average of $234.41.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.73 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. The company had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.11 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.69 earnings per share. The business's revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

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

Union Pacific Company 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.