Encompass Capital Advisors LLC Buys New Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Encompass Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 175,000 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $39,907,000. Union Pacific accounts for about 1.5% of Encompass Capital Advisors LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest holding.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Compass Financial Services Inc bought a new position in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. EnRich Financial Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth $31,000. PrairieView Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth $34,000. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL lifted its holdings in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.1%

Shares of NYSE:UNP traded up $0.32 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $228.57. 1,781,114 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,626,281. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $225.07 and a two-hundred day moving average of $233.72. Union Pacific Co. has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $258.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.77. The stock has a market cap of $136.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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 company had revenue of $6.03 billion for 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 firm's revenue for the quarter was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.69 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed 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. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.35%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.29%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNP has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Redburn Atlantic raised shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 price objective for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 14th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Guggenheim lifted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Stephens dropped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 28th. 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 company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $257.86.

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.