Griffin Asset Management Inc. Purchases 3,400 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Griffin Asset Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 29.3% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 15,021 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 3,400 shares during the quarter. Griffin Asset Management Inc.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $3,549,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. EnRich Financial Partners LLC bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL increased its holdings in 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 in the last quarter. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth approximately $45,000. Centricity Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth approximately $51,000. Finally, Midwest Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth approximately $54,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have weighed in on UNP. Susquehanna lowered their target price on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 25th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. Citigroup upgraded Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $260.00 to $244.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 14th. Finally, Stephens lowered their target price on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $257.74.

Union Pacific Trading Down 1.0%

NYSE UNP traded down $2.32 on Friday, hitting $223.17. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,670,100 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,685,196. Union Pacific Co. has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $258.07. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $220.90 and its 200 day simple moving average is $231.55. The firm has a market cap of $133.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.12, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its 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 during 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 company's revenue for the quarter was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.69 EPS. Research analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.40%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 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.