Goelzer Investment Management Inc. Boosts Stock Position in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Goelzer Investment Management Inc. boosted its position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 20.5% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 26,626 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 4,523 shares during the quarter. Goelzer Investment Management Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $6,159,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. AMI Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 4.4% in the 4th quarter. AMI Investment Management Inc. now owns 17,597 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $4,071,000 after buying an additional 743 shares in the last quarter. Cox Capital Mgt LLC raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.8% during the 4th quarter. Cox Capital Mgt LLC now owns 5,173 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,186,000 after acquiring an additional 91 shares in the last quarter. Sky Investment Group LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific by 2.0% during the fourth quarter. Sky Investment Group LLC now owns 6,881 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,592,000 after acquiring an additional 138 shares during the last quarter. Baron Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific by 4.2% during the fourth quarter. Baron Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,354 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $313,000 after acquiring an additional 54 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Canoe Financial LP boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 109.0% in the fourth quarter. Canoe Financial LP now owns 1,873 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $433,000 after acquiring an additional 977 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.1%

NYSE:UNP opened at $239.06 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64. Union Pacific Corporation has a twelve month low of $204.66 and a twelve month high of $268.14. The company has a market cap of $141.86 billion, a PE ratio of 19.97, a P/E/G ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 0.95. The company’s 50 day moving average is $248.35 and its two-hundred day moving average is $235.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.92 by ($0.06). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.89% and a net margin of 29.12%.The company had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.15 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.91 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was down .6% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 27th will be paid a $1.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.3%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.12%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have issued reports on UNP shares. Citigroup reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $270.00 price target (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Barclays reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $285.00 price objective (up from $270.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Union Pacific from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Susquehanna reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Monday, January 19th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $267.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $264.86.

About Union Pacific

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services.

Union Pacific’s core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western two‑thirds of the United States.