Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) Stake Boosted by S&CO Inc.

Key Points

• S&CO Inc. has increased its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation by 3.5%, now owning 70,271 shares valued at $16.60 million.
• Analysts have recently given mixed reviews, with target prices ranging from $248 to $285, while Union Pacific maintains a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy."
• The company has increased its quarterly dividend from $1.34 to $1.38, indicating a positive shift in its shareholder returns.

S&CO Inc. grew its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 3.5% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 70,271 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 2,360 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific comprises 1.1% of S&CO Inc.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 23rd biggest holding. S&CO Inc.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $16,600,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Allred Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 0.5% during the fourth quarter. Allred Capital Management LLC now owns 8,349 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,904,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 38.8% during the fourth quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.6% during the fourth quarter. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC now owns 2,922 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $666,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Division raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.7% during the first quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Division now owns 2,803 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $662,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Stiles Financial Services Inc raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.6% during the first quarter. Stiles Financial Services Inc now owns 2,963 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $700,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UNP has been the subject of several research reports. Redburn Atlantic raised Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 price objective for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Susquehanna reduced their price objective on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $257.00 and set a "positive" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price objective on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 14th. Bank of America boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. Finally, Argus raised Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $258.21.

Union Pacific Stock Down 1.2%

Shares of NYSE:UNP traded down $2.66 during trading on Friday, hitting $219.31. The company's stock had a trading volume of 4,630,753 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,327,575. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.65. Union Pacific Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $204.66 and a fifty-two week high of $258.07. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $227.09 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $230.93. The company has a market capitalization of $130.06 billion, a PE ratio of 19.05, a PEG ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.73% and a net margin of 28.43%. The business had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.09 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.74 earnings per share. The company's revenue was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be paid a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. This is an increase from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.5%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is currently 46.57%.

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.