Union Pacific Corporation $UNP Shares Acquired by V Square Quantitative Management LLC

Key Points

• V Square Quantitative Management LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 35.4% in Q4 to 17,557 shares worth about $4.06 million, making UNP the fund's 26th largest holding (0.4% of the portfolio).
• Major institutions — including Capital World Investors, UBS Asset Management and Capital Research — also materially boosted positions, leaving institutional investors with roughly 80.38% ownership of the company.
• Analysts hold a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating with a $265.86 target, even as Union Pacific slightly missed Q4 estimates (EPS $2.86 vs. $2.92; revenue $6.09B vs. $6.15B) and yields a $5.52 annual dividend (~2.2%).

V Square Quantitative Management LLC increased its position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 35.4% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 17,557 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 4,588 shares during the period. Union Pacific comprises 0.4% of V Square Quantitative Management LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 26th largest holding. V Square Quantitative Management LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $4,061,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Capital World Investors raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 193.3% in the third quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 10,481,043 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,477,404,000 after buying an additional 6,908,016 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 72.7% in the third quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 9,177,002 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,169,168,000 after buying an additional 3,861,636 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 95.0% in the third quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 8,713,196 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,059,538,000 after buying an additional 4,244,226 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 18.9% in the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 7,164,334 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,693,434,000 after buying an additional 1,139,926 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 3.2% in the third quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 6,881,628 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,626,610,000 after buying an additional 210,184 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on UNP shares. Raymond James Financial reissued a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. BMO Capital Markets restated a "market perform" rating and issued a $295.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, February 19th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $245.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $280.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, December 18th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group restated a "neutral" rating and issued a $267.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $265.86.

Union Pacific Price Performance

UNP opened at $248.90 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52-week low of $206.38 and a 52-week high of $268.14. The company has a 50 day moving average of $250.76 and a two-hundred day moving average of $236.58. The company has a market cap of $147.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.79, a P/E/G ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.96.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.92 by ($0.06). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.89% and a net margin of 29.12%.The business had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.15 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.91 earnings per share. Union Pacific's quarterly revenue was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th were paid a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 27th. Union Pacific's payout ratio is currently 46.12%.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 1,999 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $234.93, for a total transaction of $469,625.07. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

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.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.