Symmetry Investments LP Increases Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Symmetry Investments LP increased its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 130.0% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 212,871 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 120,326 shares during the period. Union Pacific accounts for 5.4% of Symmetry Investments LP’s portfolio, making the stock its 3rd largest position. Symmetry Investments LP’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $48,164,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of UNP. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 179.9% in the 2nd quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC now owns 8,427 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,907,000 after purchasing an additional 5,416 shares during the period. Alaethes Wealth LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.9% in the second quarter. Alaethes Wealth LLC now owns 6,390 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,446,000 after purchasing an additional 178 shares in the last quarter. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. lifted its position in Union Pacific by 2.5% during the second quarter. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. now owns 427,918 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $96,821,000 after buying an additional 10,427 shares during the period. Chesapeake Wealth Management boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter. Chesapeake Wealth Management now owns 8,202 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,856,000 after buying an additional 43 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 13.6% in the 2nd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 120,394 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $27,240,000 after buying an additional 14,388 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently commented on UNP. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $275.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday. Daiwa America cut Union Pacific from a “moderate buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 4th. Benchmark reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $266.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Monday, July 29th. Barclays dropped their target price on Union Pacific from $290.00 to $280.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 26th. Finally, TD Cowen reduced their price target on Union Pacific from $259.00 to $255.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, July 26th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $258.79.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,552 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the president now directly owns 64,945 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,014,787.55. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.28% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP stock opened at $245.39 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.89. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $245.45 and a 200-day moving average price of $239.17. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $199.33 and a 52 week high of $258.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $149.72 billion, a PE ratio of 23.42, a P/E/G ratio of 2.24 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted 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 the consensus estimate of $6.05 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 26.90% and a return on equity of 42.62%. The firm’s revenue was up .7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.57 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.11 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 30th will be given a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.18%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend 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 51.15%.

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.