Lazard Asset Management LLC Has $27.18 Million Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Lazard Asset Management LLC reduced its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 5.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 119,195 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 6,466 shares during the quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $27,179,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

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

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP traded up $0.50 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $231.35. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,006,785 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,642,063. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $224.29 and a 200 day moving average price of $233.67. The stock has a market capitalization of $138.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.86, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.07. 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 Co. has a fifty-two week low of $204.66 and a fifty-two week high of $258.07.

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 (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 during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.11 billion. During the same period last 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, research analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business 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. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.32%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 48.29%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently issued reports on UNP shares. Loop Capital cut shares of Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and cut their price target for the company from $265.00 to $200.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Redburn Atlantic raised shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 target price on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 14th. 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 target price on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $257.50.

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.