Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) Shares Acquired by Platform Technology Partners

Platform Technology Partners lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 24.4% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 10,390 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 2,035 shares during the quarter. Platform Technology Partners' holdings in Union Pacific were worth $2,455,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Arizona State Retirement System increased its position in Union Pacific by 0.9% during the first quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 177,920 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $42,032,000 after buying an additional 1,573 shares in the last quarter. Kathmere Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 28.3% during the first quarter. Kathmere Capital Management LLC now owns 8,150 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,925,000 after acquiring an additional 1,800 shares during the last quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 4.2% during the first quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 17,070 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $4,033,000 after acquiring an additional 695 shares during the last quarter. Rational Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the 1st quarter valued at about $166,000. Finally, IFC Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 20.0% in the 1st quarter. IFC Advisors LLC now owns 8,124 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,919,000 after purchasing an additional 1,353 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $263.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Monday, June 2nd. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Susquehanna upgraded Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "positive" rating and boosted their price target for the company from $245.00 to $260.00 in a report on Tuesday, June 24th. Barclays raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $256.63.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.8%

Shares of UNP traded down $1.99 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $235.01. 3,211,722 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,739,891. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1-year low of $204.66 and a 1-year high of $258.07. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $226.11 and a 200-day moving average price of $231.14. The company has a current ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91. The company has a market cap of $140.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.17, a P/E/G ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released 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 for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.11 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.80% and a net margin of 27.76%. The business's revenue was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.69 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th were given a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 30th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.28%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is currently 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.