Benjamin Edwards Inc. Purchases 2,040 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Benjamin Edwards Inc. raised its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 8.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 27,569 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 2,040 shares during the quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $6,292,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Compass Financial Services Inc purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth $29,000. EnRich Financial Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. PrairieView Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth $34,000. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 38.8% during the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms recently commented on UNP. Raymond James reissued a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 27th. Benchmark upped their target price on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Redburn Atlantic raised shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Finally, Guggenheim upped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. One equities research 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 company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $257.86.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.3 %

Shares of UNP stock traded down $0.64 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $216.20. 2,172,909 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,612,947. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $225.66 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $233.73. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $258.07. The stock has a market cap of $129.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.50, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its 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). 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 the consensus estimate of $6.11 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.69 earnings per share. The company's revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced 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 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.48%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is presently 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.