Ascent Group LLC Has $3.45 Million Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Ascent Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 14.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 15,133 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 1,860 shares during the period. Ascent Group LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $3,451,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Putney Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,647,000. Perennial Advisors LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $7,934,000. Vermillion Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $137,000. Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its position in Union Pacific by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 1,326,920 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $302,591,000 after buying an additional 21,659 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Forum Financial Management LP boosted its position in Union Pacific by 3.4% in the 4th quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 8,807 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,008,000 after buying an additional 288 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have recently issued reports on UNP. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Redburn Atlantic raised Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. Bank of America lifted their target price on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Citigroup raised Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $260.00 to $244.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, Barclays reduced their price objective on Union Pacific from $285.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 25th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $257.50.

Union Pacific Trading Up 0.1%

NYSE UNP traded up $0.11 on Thursday, reaching $222.29. The company had a trading volume of 2,971,790 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,651,380. The firm has a market cap of $132.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.04, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.07. Union Pacific Co. has a fifty-two week low of $204.66 and a fifty-two week high of $258.07. The business has a 50 day moving average of $222.28 and a two-hundred day moving average of $232.99. 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 (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 EPS 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 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 company posted $2.69 EPS. Analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be given a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 30th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.41%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) 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.