Novare Capital Management LLC Purchases New Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Novare Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 1,224 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $279,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Crescent Grove Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $553,000. Patton Albertson Miller Group LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 7.8% in the 4th quarter. Patton Albertson Miller Group LLC now owns 31,059 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $7,083,000 after acquiring an additional 2,259 shares during the period. B.O.S.S. Retirement Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $479,000. Toth Financial Advisory Corp raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 12.3% during the fourth quarter. Toth Financial Advisory Corp now owns 19,377 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $4,419,000 after purchasing an additional 2,122 shares during the last quarter. Finally, AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 2.7% during the fourth quarter. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc now owns 46,892 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $10,693,000 after purchasing an additional 1,221 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday. Citigroup lifted their price objective on Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday. StockNews.com downgraded Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 1st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $263.30.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Union Pacific stock opened at $248.94 on Monday. Union Pacific Co. has a fifty-two week low of $218.55 and a fifty-two week high of $258.66. The company has a market capitalization of $150.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.86, a PEG ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 1.06. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $234.05 and a two-hundred day moving average of $239.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 0.77.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.79% and a net margin of 27.33%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.71 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.96 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Investors of record on Monday, December 9th were paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.15%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 9th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 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.