Dark Forest Capital Management LP Grows Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Dark Forest Capital Management LP grew its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 113.0% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 2,464 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,307 shares during the period. Dark Forest Capital Management LP’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $558,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in UNP. 9258 Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 2.1% during the fourth quarter. 9258 Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,124 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $767,000 after buying an additional 65 shares during the period. Gryphon Financial Partners LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific by 86.8% during the fourth quarter. Gryphon Financial Partners LLC now owns 2,589 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $594,000 after purchasing an additional 1,203 shares during the period. J. W. Coons Advisors LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific by 5.3% during the fourth quarter. J. W. Coons Advisors LLC now owns 3,997 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $982,000 after purchasing an additional 201 shares during the period. Evoke Wealth LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. Evoke Wealth LLC now owns 9,493 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,332,000 after purchasing an additional 82 shares during the period. Finally, Qtron Investments LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific by 20.7% during the fourth quarter. Qtron Investments LLC now owns 3,850 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $946,000 after purchasing an additional 659 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,552 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $246.59, for a total transaction of $875,887.68. Following the completion of the sale, the president now 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 SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.28% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms recently issued reports on UNP. Evercore ISI downgraded shares of Union Pacific from an “outperform” rating to an “inline” rating and decreased their target price for the company from $254.00 to $247.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Bank of America decreased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $273.00 to $270.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. Susquehanna decreased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $250.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, June 25th. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $290.00 to $280.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 26th. Finally, Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $266.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Monday, July 29th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $258.11.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.4 %

UNP stock opened at $244.15 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $148.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.30, a P/E/G ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 1.05. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $245.80 and a 200-day simple moving average of $238.97. 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 Co. has a 52 week low of $199.33 and a 52 week high of $258.66.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.74 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.71 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $6.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.05 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 26.90% and a return on equity of 42.62%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up .7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.57 earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.11 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 Monday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 30th will be paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.20%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 30th. This is a boost from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 51.15%.

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.