Northern Trust Corp Grows Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Northern Trust Corp increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 15.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 6,962,650 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 920,414 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp owned about 1.15% of Union Pacific worth $1,587,763,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Allred Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 0.5% in the fourth quarter. Allred Capital Management LLC now owns 8,349 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,904,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the period. Palogic Value Management L.P. boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Palogic Value Management L.P. now owns 2,823 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $644,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares in the last quarter. Roble Belko & Company Inc grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 26.8% in the 4th quarter. Roble Belko & Company Inc now owns 213 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $49,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Pflug Koory LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Pflug Koory LLC now owns 8,569 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,954,000 after buying an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Baron Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Union Pacific by 3.3% during the fourth quarter. Baron Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,409 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $321,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on UNP shares. UBS Group 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 Wednesday, April 2nd. Loop Capital downgraded shares of Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and reduced their price target for the company from $265.00 to $200.00 in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Barclays lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $285.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Stephens reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday. Finally, Robert W. Baird upped their price target on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given 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, Union Pacific currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $257.86.

Union Pacific Price Performance

NYSE UNP traded down $1.67 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $213.99. The company's stock had a trading volume of 4,458,500 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,589,132. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. Union Pacific Co. has a 1 year low of $204.66 and a 1 year high of $258.07. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $229.73 and its 200-day moving average price is $235.15. The company has a market capitalization of $127.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.30, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced 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 during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.11 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.69 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were given a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.50%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is currently 48.29%.

Union Pacific Profile

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.