BLI Banque de Luxembourg Investments Acquires New Shares in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

BLI Banque de Luxembourg Investments acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 388,910 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $88,588,000. Union Pacific accounts for 2.4% of BLI Banque de Luxembourg Investments' portfolio, making the stock its 8th largest position. BLI Banque de Luxembourg Investments owned about 0.06% of Union Pacific as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Compass Financial Services Inc acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. EnRich Financial Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. PrairieView Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth $34,000. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 38.8% during 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 last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Stephens reduced their price target on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Barclays dropped their price objective on Union Pacific from $285.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Citigroup raised shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and decreased their target price for the company from $260.00 to $244.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, TD Cowen lifted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $257.86.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Union Pacific stock traded down $0.68 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $216.16. 1,271,859 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,600,870. 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. The firm has a market cap of $129.15 billion, a PE ratio of 19.49, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $226.17 and a 200-day simple moving average of $233.96.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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). The firm had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.11 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. The business's revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.69 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

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

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.