Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Stake Increased by New Vernon Investment Management LLC

New Vernon Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 1,444.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 46,103 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 43,118 shares during the period. Union Pacific makes up 6.3% of New Vernon Investment Management LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 5th largest position. New Vernon Investment Management LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $10,513,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at about $1,927,377,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,035,905,000. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in Union Pacific by 12.6% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,430,581 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $3,282,305,000 after acquiring an additional 1,616,895 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors grew its position in Union Pacific by 14.3% during the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,395,364 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $2,370,559,000 after acquiring an additional 1,298,178 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its position in Union Pacific by 74.7% during the 4th quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 2,146,990 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $489,600,000 after acquiring an additional 918,248 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UNP has been the topic of several recent research reports. Susquehanna reduced their price target on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Loop Capital lowered Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $265.00 to $200.00 in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Redburn Atlantic upgraded Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised their price target on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $257.86.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.7 %

Shares of UNP traded down $1.49 on Wednesday, reaching $213.05. The stock had a trading volume of 958,329 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,566,082. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $230.32 and a 200-day simple moving average of $235.28. The firm has a market capitalization of $127.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $258.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.77.

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

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th were given a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.52%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 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.