R Squared Ltd Acquires New Holdings in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

R Squared Ltd bought a new stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 3,075 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $836,000.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Capital World Investors increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 92.1% during the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 20,136,349 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $4,658,142,000 after purchasing an additional 9,655,306 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $1,779,907,000. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 72.7% in the 3rd quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 9,177,002 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,169,168,000 after purchasing an additional 3,861,636 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 26.0% in the fourth quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,980,904 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,540,105,000 after purchasing an additional 2,267,708 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 16.8% in the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 14,463,071 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $3,509,030,000 after purchasing an additional 2,084,808 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have weighed in on UNP. UBS Group restated a “neutral” rating and set a $310.00 target price (up from $286.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, July 24th. Citizens Jmp started coverage on Union Pacific in a research note on Wednesday, July 15th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $350.00 price target for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $317.00 price target on Union Pacific and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $335.00 price objective (up from $315.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, July 24th. Finally, Susquehanna raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $305.00 to $333.00 and gave the company a “positive” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $320.89.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE:UNP opened at $293.57 on Monday. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1 year low of $210.84 and a 1 year high of $315.99. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $283.00 and its 200 day simple moving average is $265.37. The company has a current ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $174.40 billion, a PE ratio of 23.77, a PEG ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.96.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.26 by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $6.86 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.72 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.85% and a return on equity of 38.46%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 11.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $3.03 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.93 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 31st will be given a $1.42 dividend. This is an increase from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. This represents a $5.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 31st. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 44.70%.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In other news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total value of $789,504.36. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 43,012 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,353,447.52. The trade was a 6.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

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.