Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Stake Lowered by Jefferies Financial Group Inc.

Jefferies Financial Group Inc. cut its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 41.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,356 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 3,782 shares during the quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,221,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Hudson Bay Capital Management LP grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 650.4% during the fourth quarter. Hudson Bay Capital Management LP now owns 60,035 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $13,690,000 after purchasing an additional 52,035 shares during the last quarter. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC NC grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 284.1% during the fourth quarter. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC NC now owns 3,964 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $904,000 after purchasing an additional 2,932 shares during the last quarter. Gotham Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 98.0% during the fourth quarter. Gotham Asset Management LLC now owns 55,077 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $12,560,000 after purchasing an additional 27,263 shares during the last quarter. Focus Partners Wealth grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 9.1% during the fourth quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 131,503 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $29,988,000 after purchasing an additional 11,012 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Full Sail Capital LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 3.6% in the 4th quarter. Full Sail Capital LLC now owns 1,793 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $409,000 after buying an additional 63 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on UNP shares. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price objective on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on 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 Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 price objective for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price objective on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 14th. Finally, Benchmark increased their price objective on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $257.86.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNP opened at $228.14 on Thursday. Union Pacific Co. has a one year low of $204.66 and a one year high of $258.07. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $224.64 and a 200-day moving average of $233.68. The company has a market capitalization of $136.31 billion, a PE ratio of 20.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.07. 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 announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.73 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. The company had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.11 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.69 EPS. Union Pacific's revenue was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be given a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend 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%.

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.

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