Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio Sells 7,886 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio has decreased its stake in Union Pacific Corporation by 3.1%, selling 7,886 shares to hold a total of 243,934 shares valued at approximately $56 million.
• Union Pacific's recent earnings report showed an earnings per share (EPS) of $3.03, beating consensus estimates by $0.19, with revenues of $6.15 billion for the quarter.
• The company has announced a quarterly dividend increase to $1.38, which reflects an annualized dividend of $5.52 and a yield of 2.4%.

Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio reduced its position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 3.1% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 243,934 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 7,886 shares during the quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $56,124,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Pines Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.7% in the second quarter. Pines Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,520 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $595,000 after buying an additional 43 shares during the period. Titleist Asset Management LLC grew its position in Union Pacific by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Titleist Asset Management LLC now owns 4,004 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $946,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Division lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Division now owns 2,803 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $662,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares during the period. Stiles Financial Services Inc raised its stake in Union Pacific by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. Stiles Financial Services Inc now owns 2,963 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $700,000 after acquiring an additional 48 shares during the period. Finally, Avalon Trust Co grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 5.1% during the 1st quarter. Avalon Trust Co now owns 1,004 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $237,000 after buying an additional 49 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.9%

NYSE:UNP opened at $227.78 on Wednesday. Union Pacific Corporation has a twelve month low of $204.66 and a twelve month high of $256.84. The company has a market cap of $135.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 1.03. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $222.44 and a 200-day simple moving average of $224.72. The company has a current ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.73% and a net margin of 28.43%.The business had revenue of $6.15 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.74 earnings per share. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 29th will be issued a $1.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. This is an increase from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is presently 47.96%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on UNP shares. Barclays lowered shares of Union Pacific from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Citigroup raised shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their target price for the company from $250.00 to $251.00 in a report on Monday, September 15th. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. Baird R W raised shares of Union Pacific to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 1st. Finally, Loop Capital raised shares of Union Pacific from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating and raised their target price for the company from $214.00 to $227.00 in a report on Tuesday, September 16th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $259.38.

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.

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