Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) Shares Bought by Verity Asset Management Inc.

Verity Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 81.4% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,114 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 1,397 shares during the quarter. Verity Asset Management Inc.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $736,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Fiduciary Trust Co raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. Fiduciary Trust Co now owns 102,213 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $23,309,000 after purchasing an additional 2,807 shares during the last quarter. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth $781,000. Miramar Capital LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 3.1% in the fourth quarter. Miramar Capital LLC now owns 54,564 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $12,443,000 after acquiring an additional 1,648 shares during the last quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 11.9% in the first quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 1,952 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $461,000 after acquiring an additional 207 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Argentarii LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at $1,005,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have issued reports on UNP. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. Susquehanna raised shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "positive" rating and upped their price objective for the company from $245.00 to $260.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 24th. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $285.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 25th. UBS Group cut their price target on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Finally, Robert W. Baird initiated coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday. They set a "neutral" rating and a $231.00 price objective on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $256.91.

Union Pacific Stock Up 2.4%

Shares of UNP traded up $5.53 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $235.61. 2,687,500 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,718,077. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $222.40 and a 200 day simple moving average of $230.64. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $258.07. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91. The firm has a market cap of $140.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.23, a P/E/G ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.73 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.11 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.80% and a net margin of 27.76%. The business's quarterly revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.69 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 30th were paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 30th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.27%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 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.