Park Avenue Securities LLC Acquires 2,058 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Park Avenue Securities LLC raised its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 6.0% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 36,488 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 2,058 shares during the quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $8,620,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $1,927,377,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,035,905,000. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 27,502.8% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,491,151 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $588,510,000 after acquiring an additional 2,482,126 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake 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 during the period. Finally, Capital Research Global Investors raised its stake 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 during the period. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Union Pacific stock traded down $0.42 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $225.30. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,939,218 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,686,414. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. The stock has a market cap of $134.61 billion, a PE ratio of 20.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $258.07. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $220.28 and a 200-day moving average price of $231.96.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released 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 return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. The company had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.11 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.69 earnings per share. Union Pacific's revenue for the quarter was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be paid a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.38%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 48.29%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have commented on UNP. UBS Group decreased 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 Wednesday, April 2nd. Bank of America upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Raymond James restated a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Citigroup raised Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and decreased their target price for the company from $260.00 to $244.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price target on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 14th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $257.74.

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.