Griffin Asset Management Inc. Buys 296 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Griffin Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 2.6% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 11,621 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 296 shares during the period. Griffin Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $2,650,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter valued at $30,000. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 265.7% in the 3rd 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 period. Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the 3rd quarter worth $32,000. Finally, Dunhill Financial LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 111.5% during the third quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 129 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 68 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Up 2.2 %

NYSE UNP opened at $254.19 on Tuesday. Union Pacific Co. has a one year low of $218.55 and a one year high of $258.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 0.77. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $234.05 and a 200 day moving average price of $239.63. The company has a market cap of $154.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.34, a P/E/G ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 1.06.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.33% and a return on equity of 41.79%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.71 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.96 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 9th were issued a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.11%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 9th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is currently 49.22%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages recently issued reports on UNP. TD Cowen lifted their target price on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday. Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $288.00 to $283.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday. Finally, Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. Eight 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 company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $263.30.

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.