Stonegate Investment Group LLC Acquires 3,025 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Stonegate Investment Group LLC raised its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 7.0% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 45,962 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 3,025 shares during the period. Stonegate Investment Group LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $10,858,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in 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 valued at $3,282,305,000 after acquiring an additional 1,616,895 shares in the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 14.3% in the 4th 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 in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $1,927,377,000. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 5.0% in the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 7,686,387 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,752,804,000 after acquiring an additional 363,937 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp raised its holdings 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 acquiring an additional 920,414 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP stock traded up $0.34 during trading on Friday, hitting $222.35. The company's stock had a trading volume of 4,274,305 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,690,554. The business has a fifty day moving average of $221.26 and a 200-day moving average of $230.91. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $258.07. The company has a market cap of $132.85 billion, a PE ratio of 20.03, a P/E/G ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a current ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91.

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

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be given a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.41%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 48.29%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have weighed in on UNP shares. Bank of America lifted their price objective on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. Susquehanna decreased their price target on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, March 7th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $295.00 price target on the stock. Raymond James Financial reiterated a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price target on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus 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.