Novare Capital Management LLC Purchases Shares of 1,224 Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Novare Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor acquired 1,224 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $279,000.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Crescent Grove Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $553,000. Patton Albertson Miller Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 7.8% during the 4th quarter. Patton Albertson Miller Group LLC now owns 31,059 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $7,083,000 after buying an additional 2,259 shares during the period. B.O.S.S. Retirement Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth $479,000. Toth Financial Advisory Corp boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 12.3% in the fourth quarter. Toth Financial Advisory Corp now owns 19,377 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $4,419,000 after acquiring an additional 2,122 shares during the last quarter. Finally, AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc grew its position in Union Pacific by 2.7% during the fourth quarter. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc now owns 46,892 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $10,693,000 after acquiring an additional 1,221 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP stock opened at $248.94 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $150.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.86, a P/E/G ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 1.06. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $234.05 and a two-hundred day moving average of $239.52. 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 Co. has a 1-year low of $218.55 and a 1-year high of $258.66.

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

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed 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 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.15%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 9th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 49.22%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on UNP shares. Sanford C. Bernstein reduced their price objective on Union Pacific from $277.00 to $272.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. Susquehanna decreased 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. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday. Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday. Finally, Benchmark increased their price target on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average 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.