Simon Quick Advisors LLC Boosts Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Simon Quick Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 32.0% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 5,050 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 1,224 shares during the quarter. Simon Quick Advisors LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,193,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of UNP. Allred Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 0.5% in 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. Palogic Value Management L.P. lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.5% in the fourth quarter. Palogic Value Management L.P. now owns 2,823 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $644,000 after buying an additional 42 shares during the period. Mystic Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.0% in the fourth quarter. Mystic Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,309 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $527,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the period. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 38.8% in the fourth quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the period. Finally, Ironwood Investment Counsel LLC lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.3% in the fourth quarter. Ironwood Investment Counsel LLC now owns 3,458 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $789,000 after buying an additional 46 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of Union Pacific stock traded down $2.32 on Friday, reaching $223.17. 1,670,100 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,685,196. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $258.07. The company has a 50 day moving average of $220.90 and a 200 day moving average of $231.45. The firm has a market capitalization of $133.34 billion, a PE ratio of 20.12, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.73 by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.11 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. The firm's revenue was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.69 earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Stephens dropped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 28th. Argus upgraded shares of Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 27th. Citigroup upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $260.00 to $244.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, Susquehanna dropped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 25th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently 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.