Retirement Systems of Alabama Cuts Stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Retirement Systems of Alabama cut its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 1.1% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 324,458 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 3,628 shares during the quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama owned 0.05% of Union Pacific worth $76,650,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of UNP. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at about $20,683,000. C2P Capital Advisory Group LLC d.b.a. Prosperity Capital Advisors acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at about $201,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust bought a new position in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at about $84,000. Atlas Legacy Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth approximately $403,000. Finally, Alberta Investment Management Corp boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1,153.8% during the fourth quarter. Alberta Investment Management Corp now owns 36,360 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $8,292,000 after buying an additional 33,460 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have weighed in on UNP shares. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Bank of America increased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. Stephens reduced their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Barclays cut their target price on Union Pacific from $285.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Raymond James Financial reissued a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $257.74.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP traded up $0.34 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $222.35. 4,274,305 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,691,388. 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's 50 day simple moving average is $221.18 and its 200-day simple moving average is $231.04. The stock has a market cap of $132.85 billion, a PE ratio of 20.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 1.05. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12 month low of $204.66 and a 12 month high of $258.07.

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 the consensus estimate of $2.73 by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.11 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.76% and a return on equity of 40.80%. The business's quarterly revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.69 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed 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 2.41%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific's payout ratio is currently 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.