Magnolia Capital Advisors LLC Invests $16.55 Million in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Magnolia Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 73,126 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $16,545,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of UNP. Capital Research Global Investors lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 23.1% in the fourth quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 6,851,767 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,682,931,000 after buying an additional 1,285,144 shares in the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 272.3% during the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 1,678,108 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $379,689,000 after purchasing an additional 1,227,318 shares during the last quarter. Winslow Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth $293,162,000. Capital World Investors raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 35.3% in the first quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 4,118,477 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,012,857,000 after purchasing an additional 1,073,625 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Junto Capital Management LP bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at $123,297,000. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,552 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $246.59, for a total transaction of $875,887.68. Following the completion of the sale, the president now directly owns 64,945 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $16,014,787.55. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UNP has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Sanford C. Bernstein decreased their target price on Union Pacific from $290.00 to $273.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, July 8th. Evercore ISI cut shares of Union Pacific from an "outperform" rating to an "inline" rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $254.00 to $247.00 in a report on Wednesday. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, September 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, June 7th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $270.00 target price for the company. Finally, Barclays lowered their price target on Union Pacific from $290.00 to $280.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 26th. Seven research 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 stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $258.11.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Union Pacific stock traded up $0.99 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $244.22. The stock had a trading volume of 1,954,544 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,287,755. Union Pacific Co. has a 52-week low of $199.33 and a 52-week high of $258.66. The company has a market capitalization of $148.78 billion, a PE ratio of 23.30, a P/E/G ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 1.05. The firm's fifty day moving average is $245.80 and its two-hundred day moving average is $238.89. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.89.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.71 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $6.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.05 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 26.90% and a return on equity of 42.62%. The company's revenue for the quarter was up .7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.57 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.11 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 30th will be given a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.19%. This is an increase from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 30th. Union Pacific's payout ratio is presently 51.15%.

Union Pacific Company 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.