Dividend Assets Capital LLC Increases Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Dividend Assets Capital LLC lifted its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 8.7% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 41,164 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 3,290 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific comprises approximately 1.8% of Dividend Assets Capital LLC's holdings, making the stock its 18th largest position. Dividend Assets Capital LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $9,725,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in UNP. EnRich Financial Partners LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. PrairieView Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth $34,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 38.8% in the fourth quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Kentucky Trust Co bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at $40,000. Finally, Stonebridge Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at $45,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNP has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Stephens reduced their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Redburn Atlantic upgraded Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 price target for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Argus upgraded Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Finally, Susquehanna decreased their price objective on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $257.74.

Union Pacific Trading Up 1.1%

Union Pacific stock traded up $2.37 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $226.51. The company had a trading volume of 3,122,209 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,682,070. 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 firm has a market cap of $135.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.42, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $219.97 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $232.04. Union Pacific Co. has a 1 year low of $204.66 and a 1 year high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued 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). The firm had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.11 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. Union Pacific's quarterly revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.69 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.37%. 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.