New York State Common Retirement Fund Sells 54,800 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

New York State Common Retirement Fund cut its position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 7.1% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 719,497 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 54,800 shares during the period. New York State Common Retirement Fund owned 0.12% of Union Pacific worth $169,974,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 12.6% during 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 last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 14.3% during the 4th 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 acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth about $1,927,377,000. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 5.0% during the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 7,686,387 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,752,804,000 after purchasing an additional 363,937 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 15.2% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 6,962,650 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,587,763,000 after purchasing an additional 920,414 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts recently commented on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $263.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Monday, June 2nd. Argus upgraded shares of Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Baird R W upgraded shares of Union Pacific to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. Finally, Barclays upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $256.63.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of Union Pacific stock traded down $1.99 on Friday, reaching $235.01. 3,211,722 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,743,214. The firm's 50 day moving average is $226.11 and its 200-day moving average is $231.15. Union Pacific Corporation has a one year low of $204.66 and a one year high of $258.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 0.73. The firm has a market cap of $140.41 billion, a PE ratio of 21.17, a P/E/G ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly 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). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.80% and a net margin of 27.76%. The firm had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.11 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.69 EPS. The business's revenue was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th were issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.28%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.29%.

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.