Pointe Capital Management LLC Takes Position in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Pointe Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) during the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor purchased 3,228 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $878,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of UNP. Capital World Investors boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 92.1% in the fourth quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 20,136,349 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $4,658,142,000 after acquiring an additional 9,655,306 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at $1,779,907,000. Legal & General Group Plc bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter valued at $1,193,135,000. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter worth about $1,094,677,000. Finally, UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 72.7% in the 3rd quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 9,177,002 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,169,168,000 after purchasing an additional 3,861,636 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In other news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total transaction of $789,504.36. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 43,012 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,353,447.52. This trade represents a 6.50% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE:UNP opened at $310.11 on Wednesday. Union Pacific Corporation has a twelve month low of $210.84 and a twelve month high of $315.99. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. The stock has a market cap of $184.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.11, a PEG ratio of 3.16 and a beta of 0.96. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $287.99 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $268.73.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.26 by $0.15. The company had revenue of $6.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.72 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.85% and a return on equity of 38.46%. Union Pacific’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $3.03 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.93 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 31st will be issued a $1.42 dividend. This represents a $5.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 31st. This is a positive change from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is currently 44.70%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have weighed in on UNP. Bank of America lifted their target price on Union Pacific from $301.00 to $334.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $304.00 to $334.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, July 24th. Evercore restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $294.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, June 25th. Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $311.00 to $344.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, July 27th. Finally, UBS Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $310.00 target price (up from $286.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, July 24th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $320.89.

Union Pacific Profile

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services.

Union Pacific’s core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western two‑thirds of the United States.