North Star Asset Management Inc. Reduces Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

North Star Asset Management Inc. cut its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 3.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 37,556 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 1,390 shares during the quarter. North Star Asset Management Inc.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $8,564,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at about $1,927,377,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at about $1,035,905,000. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 12.6% in the fourth 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 raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 14.3% in the fourth quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,395,364 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,370,559,000 after purchasing an additional 1,298,178 shares during the period. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 35.2% in the fourth 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 purchasing an additional 1,294,643 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently issued reports on UNP. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 14th. Redburn Atlantic raised shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. Stephens decreased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 28th. Susquehanna decreased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Argus raised shares of Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $257.50.

Union Pacific Trading Up 1.0%

UNP traded up $2.16 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $224.27. 2,613,252 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,647,694. The firm has a market capitalization of $134.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $222.72 and a 200 day moving average of $233.13. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $258.07.

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

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, May 30th will be paid a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.39%. 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.