Hall Capital Management Co. Inc. Buys New Shares in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Hall Capital Management Co. Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 13,773 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $3,141,000. Union Pacific comprises about 1.5% of Hall Capital Management Co. Inc.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 21st largest holding.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Compass Financial Services Inc acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. EnRich Financial Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. PrairieView Partners LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 38.8% during 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 period. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have weighed in on the company. Argus upgraded Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Susquehanna decreased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 25th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price 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. Barclays dropped their price objective on 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, Citigroup upgraded Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $260.00 to $244.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $257.50.

Union Pacific Trading Up 0.2%

Shares of NYSE:UNP traded up $0.39 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $221.56. 1,194,008 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,643,703. The business's 50-day moving average price is $222.02 and its 200 day moving average price is $232.86. The stock has a market capitalization of $132.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.00, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.07. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $204.66 and a 12 month high of $258.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.77.

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

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be paid a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 30th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.42%. 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.