Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) Short Interest Update

Key Points

• Union Pacific Corporation experienced a significant increase in short interest, rising by 12,572.4% in July to 5,880,000 shares, representing 1.0% of the company's total shares.
• The company recently reported quarterly earnings of $3.03 per share, surpassing analysts' expectations and generating revenue of $6.15 billion.
• Union Pacific has announced an increase in its quarterly dividend to $1.38 per share, with a dividend yield of 2.5% and a payout ratio of 46.57%.

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in the month of July. As of July 15th, there was short interest totaling 5,880,000 shares, anincreaseof12,572.4% from the June 30th total of 46,400 shares. Currently,1.0% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 3,240,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.8 days. Based on an average daily volume of 3,240,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.8 days. Currently,1.0% of the shares of the company are short sold.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UNP has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Bank of America increased their price objective on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price objective on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 14th. Susquehanna decreased their price objective on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $257.00 and set a "positive" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday. Citigroup cut Union Pacific from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $270.00 to $250.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Union Pacific from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, July 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $258.21.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Union Pacific

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Fiduciary Trust Co boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 2.8% during the fourth quarter. Fiduciary Trust Co now owns 102,213 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $23,309,000 after purchasing an additional 2,807 shares during the last quarter. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $781,000. SlateStone Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 6.2% in the first quarter. SlateStone Wealth LLC now owns 13,264 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $3,133,000 after acquiring an additional 772 shares during the last quarter. Meadow Creek Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 10.9% in the first quarter. Meadow Creek Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,666 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $866,000 after acquiring an additional 359 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 16.8% in the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 10,545 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,491,000 after acquiring an additional 1,520 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Union Pacific stock traded down $2.66 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $219.31. 4,630,753 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,327,575. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.53. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $227.09 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $230.93. The company has a market capitalization of $130.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.05, a PEG ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 1.05. Union Pacific has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $6.15 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.73% and a net margin of 28.43%. Union Pacific's revenue was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.74 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that Union Pacific will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be issued a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.5%. This is a positive change from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 46.57%.

Union Pacific Company 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.

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