Magnetar Financial LLC Sells 16,030 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Magnetar Financial LLC lowered its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 88.0% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,177 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 16,030 shares during the period. Magnetar Financial LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $493,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Richardson Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the first quarter valued at $26,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in Union Pacific by 211.4% during the fourth quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 109 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 74 shares during the period. Scarborough Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Cultivar Capital Inc. purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the second quarter valued at $27,000. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Trading Up 2.0 %

Union Pacific stock opened at $248.95 on Wednesday. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $245.73 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $238.94. The company has a market cap of $151.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.75, a P/E/G ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 1.05. Union Pacific Co. has a 52-week low of $199.33 and a 52-week high of $258.66. 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 announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.71 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $6.01 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.05 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 42.62% and a net margin of 26.90%. The firm’s revenue was up .7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.57 EPS. Analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.11 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 30th will be paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 30th. This is an increase from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.15%. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 51.15%.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,552 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $246.59, for a total transaction of $875,887.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now directly owns 64,945 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,014,787.55. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UNP has been the subject of several recent research reports. Loop Capital lowered Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $276.00 to $238.00 in a research report on Monday, June 17th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $280.00 to $275.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, September 20th. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $290.00 to $273.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, July 8th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $275.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, September 20th. Finally, Bank of America lowered their price target on Union Pacific from $273.00 to $270.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. Seven 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’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $259.47.

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.