Ethic Inc. Increases Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Ethic Inc. grew its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 20.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 31,485 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 5,393 shares during the quarter. Ethic Inc.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $7,180,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Fiduciary Trust Co boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. Fiduciary Trust Co now owns 102,213 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $23,309,000 after purchasing an additional 2,807 shares during the last quarter. abrdn plc lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 9.3% during the 4th quarter. abrdn plc now owns 415,874 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $94,588,000 after purchasing an additional 35,414 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its position in Union Pacific by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 179,925 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $44,348,000 after buying an additional 4,939 shares during the last quarter. Border to Coast Pensions Partnership Ltd lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 24.2% during the 4th quarter. Border to Coast Pensions Partnership Ltd now owns 277,267 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $63,185,000 after buying an additional 53,946 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pinnbrook Capital Management LP acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $3,954,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Down 1.1%

UNP traded down $2.59 on Tuesday, hitting $228.28. The company had a trading volume of 3,028,104 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,629,203. Union Pacific Co. has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $258.07. The firm has a market capitalization of $136.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.58, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.07. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $225.41 and a 200-day simple moving average of $233.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.73 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.11 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. The firm's revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.69 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be issued a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.35%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.29%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have issued reports on UNP. UBS Group decreased their price target on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. TD Cowen increased their target price on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Guggenheim upped their target price on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Susquehanna dropped their price target on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $257.86.

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.