Principal Financial Group Inc. Has $188.65 Million Stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Principal Financial Group Inc. decreased its position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 9.3% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 798,563 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 81,903 shares during the quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned about 0.13% of Union Pacific worth $188,653,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank bought a new position in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth about $1,927,377,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $1,035,905,000. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 27,502.8% during the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,491,151 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $588,510,000 after buying an additional 2,482,126 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC grew 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 buying an additional 1,616,895 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Capital Research Global Investors increased its position in Union Pacific by 14.3% in the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,395,364 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,370,559,000 after acquiring an additional 1,298,178 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.3%

Shares of UNP traded down $0.72 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $236.45. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,327,641 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,719,394. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91. The firm has a market cap of $141.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.30, a P/E/G ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a 50 day moving average of $223.53 and a two-hundred day moving average of $230.75. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1-year low of $204.66 and a 1-year high of $258.07.

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

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, May 30th were issued a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 30th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.27%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is currently 48.29%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently issued reports on UNP. Barclays decreased their price target on Union Pacific from $285.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 25th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Argus raised shares of Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $263.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Monday, June 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $256.91.

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.