Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC Has $10.38 Million Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 43.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 42,124 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 12,736 shares during the period. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $10,383,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Cultivar Capital Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at about $28,000. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. increased its position in Union Pacific by 3,250.0% in the 2nd quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. now owns 134 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares during the last quarter. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, Fairscale Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter valued at about $31,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts recently commented on UNP shares. StockNews.com downgraded Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 1st. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 13th. Benchmark reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $266.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $255.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Citigroup boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $267.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $259.80.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.5 %

Shares of UNP opened at $233.57 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 0.77. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $239.22 and a 200-day simple moving average of $238.26. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $218.55 and a 52 week high of $258.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $141.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.45, a P/E/G ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.78 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.33% and a return on equity of 41.79%. The firm had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.14 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.51 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.94 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 9th will be paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 9th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.29%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 49.22%.

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.