Two Sigma Advisers LP Purchases 2,400 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Two Sigma Advisers LP lifted its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 5.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 43,701 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 2,400 shares during the quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $9,966,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position 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 purchasing an additional 1,616,895 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors raised its holdings in shares of 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 valued at $2,370,559,000 after buying an additional 1,298,178 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth about $1,927,377,000. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 5.0% during the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 7,686,387 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,752,804,000 after acquiring an additional 363,937 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp increased 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 acquiring an additional 920,414 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Up 1.1%

Shares of NYSE:UNP traded up $2.55 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $224.66. 1,568,207 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,643,946. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $222.72 and its 200-day simple moving average is $233.13. Union Pacific Co. has a one year low of $204.66 and a one year high of $258.07. The company has a market cap of $134.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.27, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.73 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. The business had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.11 billion. Union Pacific's revenue for the quarter was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $2.69 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, May 30th will be given a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.39%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is currently 48.29%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently commented on UNP. Stephens decreased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Argus upgraded Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Redburn Atlantic upgraded Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 target price for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. UBS Group decreased their price target on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $257.50.

About Union Pacific

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.