Northstar Financial Companies Inc. Takes $445,000 Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Northstar Financial Companies Inc. acquired a new position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 1,952 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $445,000.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of UNP. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth about $1,927,377,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth about $1,035,905,000. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 12.6% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,430,581 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $3,282,305,000 after purchasing 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% during the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,395,364 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $2,370,559,000 after purchasing an additional 1,298,178 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 35.2% during the 4th 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 worth $1,133,053,000 after purchasing an additional 1,294,643 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

UNP traded down $1.07 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $221.44. 4,179,597 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,642,700. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $132.31 billion, a PE ratio of 19.97, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.07. The business's 50-day moving average price is $221.74 and its 200 day moving average price is $232.66. Union Pacific Co. has a 1-year low of $204.66 and a 1-year high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share 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 analyst estimates of $6.11 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. The business's quarterly revenue was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.69 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, May 30th will be issued a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 30th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.42%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 48.29%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Susquehanna reduced their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Loop Capital downgraded shares of Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $265.00 to $200.00 in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Argus upgraded shares of Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 27th. Finally, Citigroup upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and cut their price objective for the company from $260.00 to $244.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $257.50.

Union Pacific Company 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.