Analyst IMS Investment Management Services Ltd. Buys 2,513 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Analyst IMS Investment Management Services Ltd. boosted its position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 56.8% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 6,941 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 2,513 shares during the quarter. Analyst IMS Investment Management Services Ltd.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,640,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $1,927,377,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $1,035,905,000. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 27,502.8% during the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,491,151 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $588,510,000 after buying an additional 2,482,126 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 12.6% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,430,581 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $3,282,305,000 after buying an additional 1,616,895 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital Research Global Investors grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 14.3% during the fourth quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,395,364 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $2,370,559,000 after buying an additional 1,298,178 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Trading Up 0.2%

UNP stock traded up $0.34 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $222.35. The stock had a trading volume of 4,274,305 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,690,554. The firm has a market cap of $132.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.03, a price-to-earnings-growth 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 Corporation has a 1-year low of $204.66 and a 1-year high of $258.07. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $221.26 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $230.91.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.73 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.76% and a return on equity of 40.80%. The company had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.11 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.69 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared 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 2.41%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 48.29%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have weighed in on UNP. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Redburn Atlantic upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 price target on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $263.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Monday, June 2nd. Barclays cut their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $285.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, March 7th. They set a "buy" rating and a $295.00 price target on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target 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.