Vega Investment Solutions Makes New Investment in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Vega Investment Solutions purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 1,300 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $296,000.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Compass Financial Services Inc purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $29,000. EnRich Financial Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $31,000. PrairieView Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $34,000. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL grew its position in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 45 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, March 7th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $295.00 price objective for the company. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Benchmark lifted their price objective on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Stephens lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Finally, Susquehanna lowered their price target on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $257.50.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Union Pacific stock opened at $222.93 on Friday. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $223.29 and its 200 day moving average price is $233.51. The firm has a market capitalization of $133.19 billion, a PE ratio of 20.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.77. Union Pacific Co. has a one year low of $204.66 and a one year high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 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 analyst estimates of $6.11 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. The business's revenue was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.69 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders 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 2.40%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 48.29%.

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.

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