Stonegate Investment Group LLC Raises Stock Position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Stonegate Investment Group LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 7.0% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 45,962 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 3,025 shares during the period. Stonegate Investment Group LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $10,858,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of UNP. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,927,377,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,035,905,000. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in Union Pacific by 27,502.8% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,491,151 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $588,510,000 after purchasing an additional 2,482,126 shares during the last quarter. 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 purchasing an additional 1,616,895 shares during the last quarter. Finally, 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 purchasing an additional 1,298,178 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

UNP opened at $222.35 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91, a current ratio of 0.73 and a quick ratio of 0.61. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $221.26 and a 200 day moving average price of $230.94. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1 year low of $204.66 and a 1 year high of $258.07. The stock has a market cap of $132.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.03, a P/E/G ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.73 by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.11 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.80% and a net margin of 27.76%. The business’s revenue was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.69 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be given a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.41%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 48.29%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have weighed in on UNP shares. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 14th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, March 7th. They set a “buy” rating and a $295.00 target price on the stock. UBS Group dropped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Citigroup raised shares of Union Pacific from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $260.00 to $244.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, Bank of America boosted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $257.74.

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.