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

Baird Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 1.3% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,922,949 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 24,083 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific makes up about 0.8% of Baird Financial Group Inc.'s holdings, making the stock its 27th biggest holding. Baird Financial Group Inc. owned about 0.32% of Union Pacific worth $438,509,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Compass Financial Services Inc purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at about $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. EnRich Financial Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. PrairieView Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL grew its stake in Union Pacific by 38.8% in the fourth quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UNP has been the topic of a number of research reports. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 27th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 14th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, March 7th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $295.00 price objective for the company. One equities 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 given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $257.86.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of UNP traded down $0.37 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $216.47. 1,424,821 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,005,863. The stock's 50-day moving average is $226.17 and its two-hundred day moving average is $233.96. The stock has a market cap of $129.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.52, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $204.66 and a 12 month high of $258.07.

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

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be given a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.48%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is presently 48.29%.

Union Pacific 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.