Dark Forest Capital Management LP Lowers Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Dark Forest Capital Management LP trimmed its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 61.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 999 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 1,565 shares during the period. Dark Forest Capital Management LP's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $228,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth $1,927,377,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $1,035,905,000. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 12.6% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,430,581 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $3,282,305,000 after purchasing an additional 1,616,895 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 14.3% during the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,395,364 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $2,370,559,000 after buying an additional 1,298,178 shares during the period. Finally, Vontobel Holding Ltd. raised its stake in Union Pacific by 74.7% during the fourth quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 2,146,990 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $489,600,000 after acquiring an additional 918,248 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Stock Up 2.0 %

Shares of Union Pacific stock traded up $4.26 on Friday, reaching $218.34. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,926,803 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,591,076. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $228.61 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $234.74. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. The company has a market capitalization of $130.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.69, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.73 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.11 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. The firm's revenue was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.69 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.45%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 48.29%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have commented on UNP shares. Raymond James reissued a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Loop Capital lowered shares of Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $265.00 to $200.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 14th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 27th. Finally, TD Cowen raised their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. 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 one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $257.86.

Union Pacific Profile

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.