Capital International Sarl Takes Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Capital International Sarl acquired a new stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 1,426 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $351,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Richardson Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 1st quarter valued at about $26,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 211.4% in the 4th quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 109 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Scarborough Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Finally, Tributary Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 1st quarter valued at about $30,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNP has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $198.00 to $210.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, April 26th. Raymond James reiterated a “strong-buy” rating and set a $280.00 price objective (up from $275.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, April 26th. TD Cowen cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $259.00 to $255.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Union Pacific from $237.00 to $243.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 9th. Finally, Susquehanna cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $250.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, June 25th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $258.75.

Union Pacific Stock Up 2.1 %

Shares of Union Pacific stock traded up $5.01 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $240.36. 2,818,609 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,223,584. Union Pacific Co. has a 1 year low of $199.33 and a 1 year high of $258.66. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $229.90 and its 200 day moving average is $238.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.89, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 1.05. The firm has a market cap of $146.65 billion, a PE ratio of 22.94, a PEG ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 1.06.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.74 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.71 by $0.03. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 42.62% and a net margin of 26.90%. The business had revenue of $6.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.05 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.57 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up .7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.14 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 30th will be issued a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.23%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 30th. This is a positive change from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is 51.15%.

About Union Pacific

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.