World Investment Advisors LLC Increases Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

World Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 103.1% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 35,581 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 18,060 shares during the period. World Investment Advisors LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $8,770,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter valued at $28,000. Cultivar Capital Inc. bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the second quarter valued at about $27,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the third quarter worth about $30,000. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 265.7% in the third quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. now owns 128 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fairscale Capital LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter valued at about $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have weighed in on UNP. Bank of America dropped their price objective on Union Pacific from $273.00 to $270.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, September 24th. Sanford C. Bernstein cut their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $277.00 to $272.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $288.00 to $283.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 13th. Finally, Raymond James increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Monday, October 14th. 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 company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $259.80.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of Union Pacific stock traded up $2.33 during trading on Friday, hitting $236.04. 1,424,332 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,337,143. Union Pacific Co. has a 1 year low of $218.55 and a 1 year high of $258.66. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $238.46 and a 200-day simple moving average of $238.27. The stock has a market capitalization of $143.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.46, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.05. 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 announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.78 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.79% and a net margin of 27.33%. The company had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.14 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.51 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.94 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 30th. Investors of record on Monday, December 9th will be given a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.27%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 9th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) 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.