GAMMA Investing LLC Raises Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

GAMMA Investing LLC grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 53.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 7,222 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,524 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,634,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Armstrong Henry H Associates Inc. increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. Armstrong Henry H Associates Inc. now owns 64,602 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $14,617,000 after acquiring an additional 398 shares during the period. Quent Capital LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 5.6% in the 1st quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 2,878 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $708,000 after acquiring an additional 153 shares during the period. Cypress Asset Management Inc. TX increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. Cypress Asset Management Inc. TX now owns 23,811 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $5,970,000 after acquiring an additional 338 shares during the period. OMC Financial Services LTD acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 1st quarter valued at $2,447,000. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 73.2% in the 1st quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 4,064 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $964,000 after acquiring an additional 1,718 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP stock traded down $4.50 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $239.97. 2,114,653 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,386,958. The company has a market cap of $146.19 billion, a PE ratio of 22.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a 52-week low of $199.33 and a 52-week high of $258.66. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $230.71 and a 200 day moving average of $239.25. The company has a quick ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.89.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.74 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.71 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $6.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.05 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 26.90% and a return on equity of 42.62%. Union Pacific’s quarterly revenue was up .7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.57 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.12 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 30th will be paid a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 30th. This is a positive change from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.23%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 49.62%.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,552 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $246.59, for a total value of $875,887.68. Following the transaction, the president now directly owns 64,945 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,014,787.55. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Union Pacific news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,552 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $246.59, for a total value of $875,887.68. Following the transaction, the president now directly owns 64,945 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,014,787.55. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Whited Elizabeth 3,553 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 30th. The disclosure for this trade can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently issued reports on UNP. Sanford C. Bernstein cut their target price on Union Pacific from $290.00 to $273.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 8th. Benchmark reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $266.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Monday, July 29th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on Union Pacific from $281.00 to $275.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 26th. Loop Capital downgraded Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and cut their price target for the stock from $276.00 to $238.00 in a research report on Monday, June 17th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 18th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $258.79.

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.