Strs Ohio Takes Position in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• Strs Ohio made a new investment in Union Pacific Corporation, acquiring 136,497 shares valued at approximately $32.25 million in the first quarter.
• Union Pacific recently increased its quarterly dividend to $1.38, up from $1.34, resulting in a 2.6% dividend yield.
• Analyst ratings show a mixed sentiment towards Union Pacific, with one analyst giving a Strong Buy rating and a consensus price target of $258.21.

Strs Ohio bought a new stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 136,497 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $32,246,000.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Titleist Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.1% during the first quarter. Titleist Asset Management LLC now owns 4,004 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $946,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares during the period. First Financial Bank Trust Division increased its stake in Union Pacific by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Division now owns 2,803 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $662,000 after buying an additional 47 shares during the period. Stiles Financial Services Inc raised its position 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 buying an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. Avalon Trust Co lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 5.1% in the 1st quarter. Avalon Trust Co now owns 1,004 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $237,000 after acquiring an additional 49 shares during the period. Finally, Mather Group LLC. lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 3,041 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $718,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP stock traded up $1.27 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $216.18. The stock had a trading volume of 4,483,833 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,484,925. The company has a market cap of $128.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.09 and a beta of 1.03. 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 Corporation has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $256.84. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $224.46 and a 200 day simple moving average of $225.79.

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

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be given a $1.38 dividend. This is a boost from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 47.96%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Raymond James Financial reiterated a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $263.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Monday, June 2nd. Sanford C. Bernstein increased their target price on Union Pacific from $271.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, July 21st. UBS Group lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $238.00 to $240.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Finally, Barclays lowered Union Pacific from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $258.25.

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.