Chancellor Financial Group WB LP Acquires New Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Chancellor Financial Group WB LP bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 1,356 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $309,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of UNP. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,927,377,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,035,905,000. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 12.6% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,430,581 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $3,282,305,000 after acquiring an additional 1,616,895 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 14.3% during the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,395,364 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,370,559,000 after acquiring an additional 1,298,178 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 35.2% during the 4th quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 4,968,658 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,133,053,000 after acquiring an additional 1,294,643 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, March 7th. They set a "buy" rating and a $295.00 price objective for the company. Susquehanna reduced their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Loop Capital downgraded shares of Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and reduced their target price for the company from $265.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Barclays reduced their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $285.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $257.50.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.5%

Shares of UNP stock traded down $1.07 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $221.44. 4,179,597 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,654,224. The stock has a market cap of $132.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.97, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.07. The stock's fifty day moving average is $222.02 and its two-hundred day moving average is $232.86. 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 current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.73 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.11 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. The business's quarterly revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.69 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be given a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.42%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 48.29%.

About Union Pacific

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.