ProShare Advisors LLC Boosts Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

ProShare Advisors LLC grew its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 13.4% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 87,953 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 10,394 shares during the period. ProShare Advisors LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $20,057,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Quantinno Capital Management LP boosted its position in Union Pacific by 51.3% during the fourth quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP now owns 63,119 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $14,394,000 after purchasing an additional 21,403 shares in the last quarter. Mufg Securities Americas Inc. purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $2,041,000. Night Owl Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 3.5% during the fourth quarter. Night Owl Capital Management LLC now owns 132,386 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $30,189,000 after acquiring an additional 4,471 shares during the last quarter. NorthRock Partners LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 67.7% during the fourth quarter. NorthRock Partners LLC now owns 7,733 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,763,000 after acquiring an additional 3,122 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northwest Quadrant Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 6.1% in the fourth quarter. Northwest Quadrant Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,466 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $334,000 after buying an additional 84 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP stock traded down $1.15 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $228.35. 1,982,810 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,647,089. The company has a market capitalization of $136.43 billion, a PE ratio of 20.59, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.07. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $258.07. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $224.00 and its 200-day simple moving average is $233.67. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.73 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. The firm had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.11 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.69 EPS. The company's quarterly revenue was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be paid a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.35%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.29%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UNP has been the subject of several analyst reports. UBS Group lowered their price objective 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. Stephens dropped their price objective on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Loop Capital downgraded Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $265.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Susquehanna decreased their price objective on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $257.50.

Union Pacific Company 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.