Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio Sells 12,569 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio trimmed its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 4.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 260,227 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 12,569 shares during the period. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $59,342,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Compass Financial Services Inc bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. EnRich Financial Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. PrairieView Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 38.8% in the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Trading Up 1.0%

UNP stock traded up $2.16 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $224.27. 2,613,023 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,647,693. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.77. Union Pacific Co. has a one year low of $204.66 and a one year high of $258.07. The stock has a market capitalization of $134.00 billion, a PE ratio of 20.22, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.07. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $222.72 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $233.13.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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 for 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 company's revenue was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.69 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared 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 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.39%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific's payout ratio is presently 48.29%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have weighed in on UNP shares. Loop Capital lowered shares of Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $265.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $285.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Susquehanna reduced their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Stephens dropped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 28th. Finally, Citigroup raised shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $260.00 to $244.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $257.50.

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.