Astoria Portfolio Advisors LLC. Purchases 3,217 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Astoria Portfolio Advisors LLC. raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 153.0% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,320 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 3,217 shares during the quarter. Astoria Portfolio Advisors LLC.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,169,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 9.9% in the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 8,064 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,837,000 after acquiring an additional 724 shares in the last quarter. Norden Group LLC lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 5.5% in the fourth quarter. Norden Group LLC now owns 1,543 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $352,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares during the last quarter. Bailard Inc. grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Bailard Inc. now owns 14,458 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $3,297,000 after acquiring an additional 147 shares during the period. Asahi Life Asset Management CO. LTD. acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth about $291,000. Finally, SRS Capital Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 223.7% in the 4th quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 1,392 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $318,000 after purchasing an additional 962 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of Union Pacific stock opened at $230.29 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91. The company has a market cap of $137.59 billion, a PE ratio of 20.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.32 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a 50 day moving average of $222.40 and a 200-day moving average of $230.64. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1-year low of $204.66 and a 1-year high of $258.07.

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 the consensus estimate of $2.73 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.80% and a net margin of 27.76%. The business had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.11 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.69 earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 30th were given a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.33%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is presently 48.29%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the company. Susquehanna upgraded Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "positive" rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $245.00 to $260.00 in a report on Tuesday, June 24th. Citigroup upgraded Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $260.00 to $244.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Redburn Atlantic upgraded Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, sixteen have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $258.39.

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.

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