Rockland Trust Co. Increases Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Rockland Trust Co. raised its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 4.3% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 127,369 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 5,207 shares during the period. Union Pacific comprises about 1.5% of Rockland Trust Co.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 23rd biggest position. Rockland Trust Co.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $30,090,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth about $1,927,377,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,035,905,000. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 27,502.8% in the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,491,151 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $588,510,000 after buying an additional 2,482,126 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in 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 valued at $3,282,305,000 after acquiring an additional 1,616,895 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital Research Global Investors grew its position in Union Pacific by 14.3% during 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 during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Down 1.0%

UNP traded down $2.32 during trading on Friday, reaching $223.17. The stock had a trading volume of 1,670,100 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,682,970. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. The company has a market capitalization of $133.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.12, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. The stock's 50 day moving average is $220.59 and its two-hundred day moving average is $231.80. Union Pacific Co. has a one year low of $204.66 and a one year high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued 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 business had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.11 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.69 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 30th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.40%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 48.29%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Redburn Atlantic raised shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Raymond James restated a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Susquehanna decreased their price objective on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 25th. Bank of America boosted their target price on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, March 7th. They set a "buy" rating and a $295.00 price target on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and two have assigned 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 price target of $257.74.

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.