Eventide Asset Management LLC Increases Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Eventide Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 55.1% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 10,295 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 3,658 shares during the period. Eventide Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $2,538,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Shellback Capital LP grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 28.2% during the second quarter. Shellback Capital LP now owns 20,000 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $4,525,000 after buying an additional 4,400 shares during the last quarter. Peoples Bank KS purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter valued at $834,000. Maj Invest Holding A S grew its position in Union Pacific by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Maj Invest Holding A S now owns 676,098 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $166,645,000 after acquiring an additional 2,202 shares during the last quarter. Radnor Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the third quarter worth $2,923,000. Finally, Signature Estate & Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 190.5% during the third quarter. Signature Estate & Investment Advisors LLC now owns 4,430 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,092,000 after purchasing an additional 2,905 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

UNP stock opened at $244.87 on Friday. Union Pacific Co. has a one year low of $218.55 and a one year high of $258.66. The firm has a market cap of $148.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.49, a PEG ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 0.77. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $240.12 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $238.55.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.78 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.14 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.33% and a return on equity of 41.79%. Union Pacific’s revenue was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $2.51 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 30th. Investors of record on Monday, December 9th will be paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 9th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.19%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 49.22%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently commented on UNP shares. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $288.00 to $283.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $263.00 to $252.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 13th. Robert W. Baird dropped their price objective on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $260.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Daiwa America downgraded Union Pacific from a “moderate buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 4th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $259.80.

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.