Northstar Advisory Group LLC Makes New Investment in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Northstar Advisory Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 1,514 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $358,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 12.6% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,430,581 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $3,282,305,000 after acquiring an additional 1,616,895 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors boosted its stake in 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 acquiring an additional 1,298,178 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at about $1,927,377,000. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its stake in Union Pacific by 5.0% during the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 7,686,387 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,752,804,000 after purchasing an additional 363,937 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp raised its position in Union Pacific by 15.2% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 6,962,650 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,587,763,000 after buying an additional 920,414 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.3%

Shares of Union Pacific stock traded up $0.62 during trading on Monday, hitting $224.05. 3,097,206 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,680,311. 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's 50-day moving average price is $220.25 and its 200 day moving average price is $232.17. The stock has a market cap of $133.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. 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 announced its quarterly 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). The company 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 business's revenue for the quarter was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.69 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be given a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.29%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have weighed in on UNP. Argus upgraded Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, March 7th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $295.00 price objective on the stock. Stephens cut their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 28th. Raymond James reissued a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus dropped 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. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $257.74.

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.