Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Short Interest Update

Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) was the recipient of a significant decrease in short interest during the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 6,510,000 shares, a decrease of 19.5% from the April 30th total of 8,090,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 3,150,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.1 days. Approximately 1.1% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.5%

Shares of UNP opened at $221.44 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62. The firm has a market capitalization of $132.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.97, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a 50-day moving average of $221.74 and a 200 day moving average of $232.66. Union Pacific has a 1-year low of $204.66 and a 1-year high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.73 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. The business had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.11 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.69 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that Union Pacific will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.42%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 48.29%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have commented on UNP shares. Bank of America upped their price target on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. UBS Group reduced their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Argus upgraded shares of Union Pacific to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 14th. Finally, Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $285.00 to $260.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $257.50.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Union Pacific

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Fiduciary Trust Co boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Fiduciary Trust Co now owns 102,213 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $23,309,000 after acquiring an additional 2,807 shares during the last quarter. abrdn plc lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 9.3% in the 4th quarter. abrdn plc now owns 415,874 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $94,588,000 after buying an additional 35,414 shares during the period. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth about $781,000. Pinnbrook Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth about $3,954,000. Finally, Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 128.3% in the fourth quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 36,798 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $8,391,000 after acquiring an additional 20,681 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.