AlphaQuest LLC Decreases Stake in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

AlphaQuest LLC cut its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 58.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 3,860 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 5,468 shares during the period. AlphaQuest LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $912,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have commented on UNP. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $265.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Citigroup restated a “buy” rating and set a $270.00 price objective (up previously from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $245.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, TD Cowen lowered their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $257.00 to $255.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have issued a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $258.32.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP opened at $235.01 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $139.40 billion, a PE ratio of 19.63, a P/E/G ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 0.98. The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $232.42 and a 200 day moving average price of $226.80. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $253.20.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.92 by ($0.06). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.89% and a net margin of 29.12%.The company had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.15 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.91 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was down .6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, 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 company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 5th were given a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 5th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.12%.

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.