QRG Capital Management Inc. Buys 17,398 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

QRG Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 22.7% during the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 94,107 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 17,398 shares during the period. QRG Capital Management Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $22,832,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 59,329,262 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $13,724,045,000 after acquiring an additional 659,378 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 4.3% during the 4th quarter. State Street Corp now owns 26,330,080 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $6,090,674,000 after acquiring an additional 1,082,285 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 92.1% during the fourth quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 20,136,349 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $4,658,142,000 after purchasing an additional 9,655,306 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 2.0% in the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 15,360,668 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $3,552,550,000 after purchasing an additional 296,814 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased its stake in Union Pacific by 5.0% in the fourth quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 12,636,050 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,922,971,000 after purchasing an additional 602,647 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total transaction of $789,504.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 43,012 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $11,353,447.52. This represents a 6.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.70, for a total value of $549,400.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 114,642 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $31,492,157.40. The trade was a 1.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 32,378 shares of company stock worth $8,781,595. Corporate insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP opened at $282.50 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $167.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.27, a PEG ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.96. Union Pacific Corporation has a twelve month low of $210.84 and a twelve month high of $282.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 0.92. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $267.68 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $252.28.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.86 by $0.07. Union Pacific had a net margin of 29.20% and a return on equity of 39.58%. The company had revenue of $6.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.12 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.70 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 3.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.55 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 29th were issued a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 29th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is 45.47%.

Key Headlines Impacting Union Pacific

Here are the key news stories impacting Union Pacific this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Union Pacific is drawing attention after a stake change, which can signal renewed investor interest and sometimes sparks buying. Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Draws Attention After Stake Change
• Positive Sentiment: Shares are being helped by commentary that rail momentum is building and UNP is hitting fresh highs, reinforcing a bullish technical and industry backdrop. Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Hits Fresh High As Rail Momentum Builds
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst and preview pieces suggest Union Pacific could post another earnings beat, with expectations for single-digit bottom-line growth and favorable freight trends. Union Pacific’s Quarterly Earnings Preview: What You Need to Know
• Positive Sentiment: Brokerage coverage remains constructive, with Union Pacific still carrying a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating. Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages
• Neutral Sentiment: Some coverage notes that rising intermodal volumes are affecting major railroads, but the article frames the trend as an industry-wide dynamic rather than a company-specific catalyst. Rising intermodal volume slows big four U.S. rail systems
• Negative Sentiment: A class action was certified against Union Pacific over alleged dumping of carcinogenic chemicals in Wichita neighborhoods, adding legal and reputational risk that could weigh on the stock. Lanier Law Firm: Class Action Certified Against Union Pacific for Dumping Carcinogenic Chemicals in Historically Black Wichita Neighborhoods

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on UNP. Barclays reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $315.00 price target (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $267.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, April 24th. TD Cowen lifted their target price on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $282.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, April 24th. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $300.00 target price (up from $260.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, April 24th. Finally, Benchmark increased their price target on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, April 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $283.11.

Union Pacific Company Profile

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.