Portside Wealth Group LLC Buys New Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Portside Wealth Group LLC bought a new stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 3,862 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $912,000.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of UNP. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 12.6% in 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 lifted its holdings 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 worth $2,370,559,000 after acquiring an additional 1,298,178 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,927,377,000. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its position in Union Pacific by 5.0% in the fourth quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 7,686,387 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,752,804,000 after buying an additional 363,937 shares during the period. Finally, Northern Trust Corp lifted its position in Union Pacific by 15.2% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 6,962,650 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,587,763,000 after purchasing an additional 920,414 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Up 1.1%

Shares of UNP stock traded up $2.37 on Tuesday, hitting $226.51. The company's stock had a trading volume of 3,122,209 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,682,070. The stock has a market capitalization of $135.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.42, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. Union Pacific Co. has a fifty-two week low of $204.66 and a fifty-two week high of $258.07. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $219.97 and its 200-day moving average price is $232.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share (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 for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.11 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.69 EPS. The business's revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be paid a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.37%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 48.29%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have commented on the stock. Argus upgraded shares of Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Citigroup raised Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $260.00 to $244.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Barclays cut their target price on Union Pacific from $285.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Redburn Atlantic upgraded 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. Finally, Raymond James restated a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 25th. One equities 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 data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price 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.