Carderock Capital Management Inc. Makes New Investment in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Carderock Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 1,918 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $437,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Chesapeake Wealth Management boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 0.5% in the second quarter. Chesapeake Wealth Management now owns 8,202 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,856,000 after acquiring an additional 43 shares during the last quarter. Traveka Wealth LLC boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 3.4% in the 3rd quarter. Traveka Wealth LLC now owns 1,357 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $335,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during 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 purchasing an additional 45 shares during the period. Roble Belko & Company Inc increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 26.8% in the fourth quarter. Roble Belko & Company Inc now owns 213 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Finally, True Link Financial Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 1.2% in the third quarter. True Link Financial Advisors LLC now owns 4,016 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $990,000 after buying an additional 47 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on UNP shares. Sanford C. Bernstein reduced their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $277.00 to $272.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. Susquehanna reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. Evercore ISI downgraded Union Pacific from an "outperform" rating to an "inline" rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $254.00 to $247.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 25th. Citigroup raised 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. Finally, Robert W. Baird decreased their price objective on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $260.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Nine 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 company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $259.35.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

UNP stock traded down $0.90 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $233.99. The stock had a trading volume of 3,643,704 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,141,562. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $233.83 and a 200 day simple moving average of $238.85. Union Pacific Co. has a fifty-two week low of $218.55 and a fifty-two week high of $258.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $141.86 billion, a PE ratio of 21.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.63.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.78 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates 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 for the quarter was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.51 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Investors of record on Monday, December 9th were issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.29%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 9th. Union Pacific's payout ratio is presently 49.22%.

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.