Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. Grows Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. lifted its position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 17.9% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 35,386 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 5,381 shares during the period. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $8,360,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 12.6% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,430,581 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $3,282,305,000 after purchasing an additional 1,616,895 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 14.3% in the fourth quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,395,364 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $2,370,559,000 after purchasing an additional 1,298,178 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $1,927,377,000. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its stake in Union Pacific by 5.0% during the fourth quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 7,686,387 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,752,804,000 after acquiring an additional 363,937 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp increased its stake in Union Pacific by 15.2% during the fourth quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 6,962,650 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,587,763,000 after acquiring an additional 920,414 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on Union Pacific from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $263.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Monday, June 2nd. Robert W. Baird initiated coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, July 1st. They set a "neutral" rating and a $231.00 target price for the company. Raymond James Financial reiterated a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price objective on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $255.13.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

UNP traded up $0.44 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $236.98. 250,662 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,716,651. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1-year low of $204.66 and a 1-year high of $258.07. The company has a current ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91. The firm has a market capitalization of $141.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 1.05. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $224.89 and its 200 day simple moving average is $230.99.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.73 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.11 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.76% and a return on equity of 40.80%. Union Pacific's revenue was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $2.69 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, May 30th were paid a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.26%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is presently 48.29%.

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.