Merit Financial Group LLC Has $5.35 Million Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Merit Financial Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 38.0% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 23,475 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 6,470 shares during the period. Merit Financial Group LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $5,353,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new stake in Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter worth about $28,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific during the third quarter worth about $30,000. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. increased its position in Union Pacific by 265.7% during the third quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. now owns 128 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 93 shares during the last quarter. Fairscale Capital LLC bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, Dunhill Financial LLC boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 111.5% during the 3rd quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 129 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 68 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on UNP shares. Benchmark restated a "buy" rating and set a $266.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Robert W. Baird dropped their target price on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $260.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $267.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th. Susquehanna dropped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $263.00 to $252.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $259.35.

Union Pacific Price Performance

NYSE:UNP traded down $0.90 on Friday, hitting $233.99. The company had a trading volume of 3,643,704 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,141,562. 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 $141.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.49, a PEG ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 1.06. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $233.83 and a two-hundred day moving average of $238.95.

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). The firm had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.14 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.33% and a return on equity of 41.79%. The firm's revenue was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.51 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.95 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 9th were issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.29%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 9th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 49.22%.

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.