Voleon Capital Management LP Buys 5,924 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• Voleon Capital Management LP increased its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation by 11.6%, reaching a total of 57,092 shares, valued at approximately $13.49 million.
• Multiple large investors, including Nuveen LLC and GAMMA Investing LLC, have significantly increased their stakes in Union Pacific, reflecting strong institutional interest in the company.
• Union Pacific has announced a quarterly dividend increase to $1.38 per share, representing an annual yield of 2.5%, with the dividend payout ratio at 47.96%.

Voleon Capital Management LP grew its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 11.6% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 57,092 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 5,924 shares during the period. Union Pacific makes up about 1.1% of Voleon Capital Management LP's portfolio, making the stock its 14th biggest position. Voleon Capital Management LP's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $13,487,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Titleist Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. Titleist Asset Management LLC now owns 4,004 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $946,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Division lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Division now owns 2,803 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $662,000 after buying an additional 47 shares during the period. Stiles Financial Services Inc lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. Stiles Financial Services Inc now owns 2,963 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $700,000 after buying an additional 48 shares during the period. Avalon Trust Co lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 5.1% during the 1st quarter. Avalon Trust Co now owns 1,004 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $237,000 after buying an additional 49 shares during the period. Finally, Mather Group LLC. lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 3,041 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $718,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on UNP shares. Susquehanna dropped their price objective on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $257.00 and set a "positive" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Robert W. Baird started coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, July 1st. They set a "neutral" rating and a $231.00 price objective for the company. UBS Group upped their target price on Union Pacific from $238.00 to $240.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 7th. Finally, Raymond James Financial reaffirmed a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $258.21.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNP traded down $1.18 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $214.87. 5,004,712 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,182,723. The company has a market cap of $127.43 billion, a PE ratio of 18.67, a P/E/G ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 1.03. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $225.30 and a 200 day moving average of $226.45. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $256.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.53.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.73% and a net margin of 28.43%.The firm had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.74 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 29th will be given a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.6%. This is a boost from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 47.96%.

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.