Quantitative Investment Management LLC Acquires 27,765 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Quantitative Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 364.7% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 35,378 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 27,765 shares during the period. Union Pacific makes up about 1.2% of Quantitative Investment Management LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 21st biggest holding. Quantitative Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $8,362,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the second quarter worth $1,856,340,000. Capital World Investors lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 193.3% in the third quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 10,481,043 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,477,404,000 after buying an additional 6,908,016 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 95.0% in the third quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 8,713,196 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,059,538,000 after buying an additional 4,244,226 shares during the period. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 22,618.2% during the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,624,636 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $603,876,000 after buying an additional 2,613,083 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Amundi boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 35.6% during the second quarter. Amundi now owns 4,782,577 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,134,236,000 after buying an additional 1,255,231 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Trading Down 2.8%

NYSE UNP opened at $243.96 on Friday. Union Pacific Corporation has a one year low of $204.66 and a one year high of $268.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.75. The firm has a market cap of $144.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.38, a P/E/G ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 0.95. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $246.26 and its 200-day moving average is $233.60.

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

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have recently commented on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $245.00 price target on Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Union Pacific from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Barclays restated 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. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed a “strong-buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. Finally, TD Cowen reduced their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $257.00 to $255.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $263.77.

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.