AXQ Capital LP Makes New $407,000 Investment in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

AXQ Capital LP bought a new stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 1,786 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $407,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Palogic Value Management L.P. boosted its position in Union Pacific by 1.5% in the fourth quarter. Palogic Value Management L.P. now owns 2,823 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $644,000 after buying an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. Roble Belko & Company Inc lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 26.8% during the 4th quarter. Roble Belko & Company Inc now owns 213 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $49,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the period. Pflug Koory LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Pflug Koory LLC now owns 8,569 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,954,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Baron Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 3.3% in the fourth quarter. Baron Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,409 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $321,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the period. Finally, Mystic Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 2.0% during the fourth quarter. Mystic Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,309 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $527,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Union Pacific Trading Down 0.8 %

Shares of NYSE UNP traded down $1.96 during trading on Thursday, hitting $236.07. 1,913,917 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,300,118. 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 Co. has a 12-month low of $218.55 and a 12-month high of $258.07. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $243.12 and a 200-day moving average price of $239.72. The firm has a market capitalization of $142.65 billion, a PE ratio of 21.29, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.71 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.27%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.33%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In related news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total transaction of $1,636,740.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at $6,632,388. This trade represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $1,875,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now owns 64,960 shares of the company's stock, valued at $16,240,000. This trade represents a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Citigroup raised their target price on Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Susquehanna lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $255.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, March 7th. They set a "buy" rating and a $295.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $262.76.

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.