Public Sector Pension Investment Board Raises Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Public Sector Pension Investment Board raised its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 13.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 754,322 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 88,340 shares during the period. Union Pacific comprises about 1.0% of Public Sector Pension Investment Board’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 18th biggest holding. Public Sector Pension Investment Board owned approximately 0.12% of Union Pacific worth $185,925,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. LRI Investments LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the first quarter worth $190,000. Swedbank AB purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 1st quarter worth about $36,938,000. First City Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 12.9% in the 1st quarter. First City Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,804 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $444,000 after purchasing an additional 206 shares during the period. Raelipskie Partnership purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the first quarter valued at about $878,000. Finally, PGGM Investments purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the first quarter valued at about $164,000. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.2 %

Union Pacific stock opened at $245.23 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $148.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.52, a PEG ratio of 2.47 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $218.55 and a 12 month high of $258.66. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $240.19 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $238.51.

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

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 9th will be issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.19%. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 49.22%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have weighed in on UNP shares. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $288.00 to $283.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Robert W. Baird reduced their price target 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. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $262.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Bank of America dropped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $273.00 to $270.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, September 24th. Finally, Raymond James increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 14th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has an average 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.