Smartleaf Asset Management LLC Increases Stake in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 33.7% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 8,852 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 2,232 shares during the quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $2,091,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

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

Union Pacific Price Performance

UNP opened at $252.92 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $150.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.13, a PEG ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.98. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $253.29. 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 business has a fifty day moving average of $233.86 and a 200 day moving average of $227.40.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.92 by ($0.06). The company had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.15 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.89% and a net margin of 29.12%.The company’s quarterly revenue was down .6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.91 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

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 issued 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 dividend yield of 2.2%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 46.12%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have weighed in on UNP. Susquehanna reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Monday, January 19th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $280.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $265.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $245.00 price target on Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, Citigroup restated a “buy” rating and set a $270.00 price objective (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $258.32.

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.