Quadrature Capital Ltd Decreases Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Quadrature Capital Ltd decreased its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 68.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 16,670 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 35,898 shares during the period. Quadrature Capital Ltd's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $4,106,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Cultivar Capital Inc. acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter worth about $28,000. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. grew its position in Union Pacific by 3,250.0% during the 2nd quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. now owns 134 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares during the period. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, Fairscale Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter worth about $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Union Pacific stock traded down $1.01 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $233.62. The company had a trading volume of 2,585,145 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,333,137. The company has a market capitalization of $141.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.45, a P/E/G ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 1.05. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $218.55 and a 12-month high of $258.66. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $239.43 and its 200-day simple moving average is $238.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.63.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.78 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.79% and a net margin of 27.33%. The business had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.14 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.51 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.94 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 9th will be paid a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.29%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 9th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 49.22%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNP has been the topic of several analyst reports. Robert W. Baird cut their price target on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $260.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their target price on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $262.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Sanford C. Bernstein dropped their target price on Union Pacific from $277.00 to $272.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on Union Pacific from $263.00 to $252.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $259.80.

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.