BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp Reduces Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp trimmed its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 21.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 116,655 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 31,146 shares during the period. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $26,602,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Compass Financial Services Inc bought a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth $29,000. EnRich Financial Partners LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth $31,000. PrairieView Partners LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth $34,000. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL increased its position in Union Pacific by 38.8% in the fourth quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNP traded up $2.16 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $224.27. The stock had a trading volume of 798,628 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,640,662. The business's 50 day moving average price is $222.72 and its 200 day moving average price is $233.13. Union Pacific Co. has a 1 year low of $204.66 and a 1 year high of $258.07. The company has a market cap of $133.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76.

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

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, May 30th will be given a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.39%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is presently 48.29%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on UNP shares. Argus raised Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $285.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 25th. Loop Capital cut shares of Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $265.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Bank of America raised their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $257.50.

About Union Pacific

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.