Wallington Asset Management LLC Increases Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Wallington Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 1.7% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 77,754 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 1,290 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific accounts for approximately 2.6% of Wallington Asset Management LLC's holdings, making the stock its 13th biggest position. Wallington Asset Management LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $17,731,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Chesapeake Wealth Management grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 0.5% in the second quarter. Chesapeake Wealth Management now owns 8,202 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,856,000 after acquiring an additional 43 shares during the period. Traveka Wealth LLC boosted its position in Union Pacific by 3.4% in the third 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 3rd quarter. Red Mountain Financial LLC now owns 2,276 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $561,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the period. Roble Belko & Company Inc increased its position in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Finally, True Link Financial Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter. True Link Financial Advisors LLC now owns 4,016 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $990,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP stock traded down $0.90 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $233.99. The stock had a trading volume of 3,643,704 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,141,562. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.63. 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. Union Pacific Co. has a one year low of $218.55 and a one year high of $258.66. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $233.83 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $238.95.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 earnings per share (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 return on equity of 41.79% and a net margin of 27.33%. The business's revenue was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.51 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.95 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNP has been the subject of several recent research reports. Susquehanna cut their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Union Pacific from $263.00 to $252.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. Benchmark reissued a "buy" rating and set a $266.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, October 25th. Barclays upped their price target on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. Finally, Robert W. Baird cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $260.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $259.35.

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.