Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Shares Acquired by Baird Financial Group Inc.

Baird Financial Group Inc. increased its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 1.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 1,922,949 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 24,083 shares during the period. Union Pacific comprises approximately 0.8% of Baird Financial Group Inc.'s holdings, making the stock its 27th largest position. Baird Financial Group Inc. owned 0.32% of Union Pacific worth $438,509,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. Allred Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 0.5% in the fourth quarter. Allred Capital Management LLC now owns 8,349 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,904,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Palogic Value Management L.P. raised its position 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 buying an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. Roble Belko & Company Inc boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 26.8% in the 4th quarter. Roble Belko & Company Inc now owns 213 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $49,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Pflug Koory LLC increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 0.5% in the fourth quarter. Pflug Koory LLC now owns 8,569 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,954,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the period. Finally, Baron Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings 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 purchasing an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNP traded down $3.26 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $213.27. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,264,258 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,592,909. The company has a market cap of $127.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.07. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $258.07. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $227.40 and its 200 day simple moving average is $234.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.77.

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

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price target on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Finally, 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 report on Wednesday, April 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target 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.