Voleon Capital Management LP Purchases New Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Voleon Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund purchased 51,168 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $11,668,000. Union Pacific makes up 0.9% of Voleon Capital Management LP’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 15th biggest holding.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Compass Financial Services Inc purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $29,000. EnRich Financial Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $31,000. PrairieView Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $34,000. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 38.8% during the fourth quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Trading Up 0.9 %

Union Pacific stock opened at $214.53 on Wednesday. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $258.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62. The stock has a market capitalization of $128.57 billion, a PE ratio of 19.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $230.32 and a 200-day simple moving average of $235.28.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.73 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. The company had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.11 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.69 EPS. Union Pacific’s revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.50%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 48.29%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UNP has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. UBS Group decreased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. TD Cowen raised their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $257.86.

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.