GSA Capital Partners LLP Takes $1.21 Million Position in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• GSA Capital Partners initiated a roughly $1.21 million position in Union Pacific during the second quarter, while institutional investors collectively own 80.38% of the railroad operator.
• Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus, with an average price target of $320.89; several firms recently raised their targets to between $335 and $350.
• Union Pacific exceeded quarterly earnings and revenue expectations, reporting $3.41 in EPS and $6.86 billion in revenue, while increasing its quarterly dividend to $1.42 per share.

GSA Capital Partners LLP bought a new stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 4,432 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $1,206,000.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Rachor Investment Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Tucker Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. SWAN Capital LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 2,575.0% in the 4th quarter. SWAN Capital LLC now owns 107 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. High Point Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Finally, Cornerstone Financial Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently commented on UNP shares. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed a "market perform" rating and issued a $320.00 price target (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Evercore reiterated an "outperform" rating and set a $294.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday, June 25th. Benchmark lifted their price objective on Union Pacific from $325.00 to $335.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, July 24th. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $326.00 to $349.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Finally, Barclays reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and issued a $350.00 target price (up from $315.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, July 24th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $320.89.

Union Pacific Stock Up 2.2%

Shares of UNP opened at $300.06 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $178.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.30, a PEG ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.82. Union Pacific Corporation has a one year low of $210.84 and a one year high of $315.99. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $283.63 and its 200-day simple moving average is $265.84.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $3.26 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 38.46% and a net margin of 28.85%.The firm had revenue of $6.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.72 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $3.03 EPS. The business's revenue was up 11.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.93 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 31st will be issued a dividend of $1.42 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 31st. This is a boost from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. This represents a $5.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.9%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 44.70%.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In other news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total value of $789,504.36. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 43,012 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,353,447.52. This trade represents a 6.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 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.

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