Encompass Capital Advisors LLC Makes New Investment in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

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

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 4.4% in the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 927,992 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $228,732,000 after purchasing an additional 39,014 shares during the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 3.9% in the fourth quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 107,488 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $24,499,000 after purchasing an additional 4,075 shares during the last quarter. Douglas Lane & Associates LLC grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 4.8% in the fourth quarter. Douglas Lane & Associates LLC now owns 2,856 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $651,000 after purchasing an additional 132 shares during the last quarter. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 18.8% in the fourth quarter. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,205 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $959,000 after purchasing an additional 664 shares during the last quarter. Finally, ORG Partners LLC grew its position in Union Pacific by 20.1% during the fourth quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 3,316 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $757,000 after buying an additional 556 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNP traded down $0.64 during trading on Friday, reaching $216.20. The stock had a trading volume of 2,172,909 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,612,947. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $258.07. The business's 50-day moving average price is $225.66 and its 200 day moving average price is $233.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62. The stock has a market capitalization of $129.17 billion, a PE ratio of 19.50, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its 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 the consensus estimate of $6.11 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.69 EPS. The business's revenue was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, May 30th will be given a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend 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 presently 48.29%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on UNP shares. TD Cowen lifted their target price on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Citigroup raised Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $260.00 to $244.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their target price 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. Finally, UBS Group decreased their target price on 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 investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $257.86.

Union Pacific Company 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.