Scharf Investments LLC Buys 26,142 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Scharf Investments LLC raised its position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 4.9% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 563,255 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 26,142 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific comprises 4.0% of Scharf Investments LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 12th largest holding. Scharf Investments LLC owned about 0.09% of Union Pacific worth $133,063,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Allred Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Allred Capital Management LLC now owns 8,349 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,904,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Palogic Value Management L.P. lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Palogic Value Management L.P. now owns 2,823 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $644,000 after acquiring an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. Mystic Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. Mystic Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,309 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $527,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 38.8% during the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $39,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ironwood Investment Counsel LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.3% during the 4th quarter. Ironwood Investment Counsel LLC now owns 3,458 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $789,000 after acquiring an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Up 1.5%

Shares of NYSE:UNP traded up $3.42 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $225.93. 2,665,203 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,690,453. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 0.73. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $258.07. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $221.34 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $230.83. The company has a market capitalization of $134.99 billion, a PE ratio of 20.35, a P/E/G ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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 40.80% and a net margin of 27.76%. The firm had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.11 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.69 earnings per share. Union Pacific's revenue was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.37%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 48.29%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Bank of America increased their price objective on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, March 7th. They set a "buy" rating and a $295.00 price objective for the company. Raymond James Financial restated a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Barclays reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $285.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 25th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price 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.