QV Investors Inc. Acquires 20,530 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

QV Investors Inc. raised its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 38.9% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 73,261 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 20,530 shares during the period. Union Pacific comprises about 1.5% of QV Investors Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 24th largest position. QV Investors Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $17,317,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of UNP. Howard Hughes Medical Institute bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Total Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the second quarter worth about $31,000. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. bought a new stake in Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter valued at $31,000. Access Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Sagard Holdings Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter worth about $33,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UNP has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Susquehanna reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Monday. Barclays restated an “overweight” rating and set a $285.00 price target (up from $270.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Wednesday. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $263.00 target price on Union Pacific and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Finally, UBS Group set a $253.00 price target on Union Pacific and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, October 3rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating and eleven have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $259.58.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.9%

NYSE UNP opened at $231.44 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.75, a current ratio of 0.75 and a quick ratio of 0.60. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1 year low of $204.66 and a 1 year high of $256.84. The stock has a market capitalization of $137.28 billion, a PE ratio of 19.66, a PEG ratio of 2.64 and a beta of 0.99. The business’s 50-day moving average is $231.09 and its 200 day moving average is $226.98.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.08 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.99 by $0.09. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.73% and a return on equity of 42.23%. The business had revenue of $6.24 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.24 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.75 earnings per share. Union Pacific’s quarterly revenue was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 5th were paid a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 5th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 46.90%.

Union Pacific 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.