Machina Capital S.A.S. Boosts Position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Machina Capital S.A.S. raised its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 170.2% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 7,215 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 4,545 shares during the quarter. Machina Capital S.A.S.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,704,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Allred Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 0.5% during the fourth quarter. Allred Capital Management LLC now owns 8,349 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,904,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the period. Palogic Value Management L.P. increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.5% during the fourth quarter. Palogic Value Management L.P. now owns 2,823 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $644,000 after acquiring an additional 42 shares in the last quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 38.8% in the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific by 1.6% in the 4th quarter. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC now owns 2,922 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $666,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Financial Bank Trust Division boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Division now owns 2,803 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $662,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have issued reports on UNP. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 7th. Susquehanna upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "positive" rating and increased their price objective for the company from $245.00 to $260.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 24th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday. Jefferies Financial Group raised Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $250.00 to $285.00 in a research report on Friday. Finally, Raymond James Financial reiterated a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating, sixteen have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $259.46.

Union Pacific Trading Up 1.9%

NYSE:UNP traded up $4.19 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $224.71. 8,254,381 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,405,370. The firm's 50 day moving average is $227.17 and its two-hundred day moving average is $231.03. The stock has a market capitalization of $134.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.52, a PEG ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.84 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $6.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.09 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.43% and a return on equity of 41.73%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.74 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 29th will be issued a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.46%. This is a positive change from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 47.96%.

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.