Blue Capital Inc. Acquires New Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Blue Capital Inc. acquired a new position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 1,719 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $392,000.

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, March 7th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $295.00 target price on the stock. Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. UBS Group dropped their price objective 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. Stephens lowered their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 28th. Finally, Loop Capital lowered Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $265.00 to $200.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned 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 stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $257.86.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP stock traded down $0.64 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $216.20. 2,172,909 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,607,693. The stock's 50-day moving average is $225.66 and its 200-day moving average is $233.79. 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 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $258.07. The stock has a market cap of $129.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.07.

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). The firm had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.11 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. The company's revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.69 EPS. As a group, research 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 will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.48%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 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.