Assenagon Asset Management S.A. Raises Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 35.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 1,226,100 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 323,525 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. owned approximately 0.20% of Union Pacific worth $279,600,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of UNP. Chesapeake Wealth Management increased its position in Union Pacific by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter. Chesapeake Wealth Management now owns 8,202 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,856,000 after buying an additional 43 shares in the last quarter. Traveka Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 3.4% in the third quarter. Traveka Wealth LLC now owns 1,357 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $335,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Red Mountain Financial LLC grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 2.0% during the third quarter. Red Mountain Financial LLC now owns 2,276 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $561,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. True Link Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.2% during the third quarter. True Link Financial Advisors LLC now owns 4,016 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $990,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Alpha Financial Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 3.6% in the 2nd quarter. Alpha Financial Partners LLC now owns 1,453 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $329,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.7 %

NYSE:UNP traded up $1.62 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $231.00. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,892,336 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,387,871. Union Pacific Co. has a 52-week low of $218.55 and a 52-week high of $258.66. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79. The stock has a market capitalization of $140.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 1.06. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $234.49 and a 200-day moving average of $238.87.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.78 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.14 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.33% and a return on equity of 41.79%. The company's revenue was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.51 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.94 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 9th were given a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 9th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.32%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is presently 49.22%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have weighed in on the stock. Susquehanna dropped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $267.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. Robert W. Baird reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $260.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. StockNews.com cut Union Pacific from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 1st. Finally, Bank of America cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $273.00 to $270.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, September 24th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $259.80.

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.