Public Sector Pension Investment Board Decreases Position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Public Sector Pension Investment Board reduced its stake in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 9.1% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 773,177 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 77,123 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific accounts for approximately 0.8% of Public Sector Pension Investment Board’s portfolio, making the stock its 22nd largest holding. Public Sector Pension Investment Board owned about 0.13% of Union Pacific worth $182,655,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of UNP. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 112.1% in the fourth quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 61,500 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $14,024,000 after acquiring an additional 32,500 shares during the period. CenterBook Partners LP bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at about $262,000. Sterling Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 2.8% during the fourth quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 13,889 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $3,167,000 after buying an additional 376 shares during the period. Townsquare Capital LLC lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.6% in the fourth quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC now owns 24,275 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $5,536,000 after buying an additional 615 shares during the period. Finally, Sagespring Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $2,560,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE UNP opened at $222.27 on Monday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $227.09 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $230.32. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1-year low of $204.66 and a 1-year high of $258.07. The stock has a market capitalization of $131.82 billion, a PE ratio of 19.31, a P/E/G ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.53.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.84 by $0.19. The business had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.73% and a net margin of 28.43%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.74 earnings per share. On average, research analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be paid a dividend of $1.38 per share. This is a positive change from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is currently 47.96%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on UNP shares. Citigroup cut Union Pacific from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $270.00 to $250.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Barclays lowered shares of Union Pacific from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Robert W. Baird assumed coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, July 1st. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $231.00 price objective on the stock. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. Finally, Evercore ISI cut their price target on Union Pacific from $244.00 to $238.00 and set an “in-line” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $258.21.

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.