Handelsbanken Fonder AB Decreases Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Handelsbanken Fonder AB lowered its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 1.2% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 279,771 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 3,531 shares during the quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $66,093,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. EnRich Financial Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth $31,000. PrairieView Partners LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth about $34,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 38.8% during the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the period. Kentucky Trust Co purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at about $40,000. Finally, Stonebridge Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at about $45,000. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 27th. Argus upgraded shares of Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Bank of America boosted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Citigroup upgraded Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $260.00 to $244.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, Barclays lowered their target price on Union Pacific from $285.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $257.74.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP stock traded down $2.32 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $223.17. The company had a trading volume of 1,670,100 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,682,970. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $220.90 and its 200-day moving average price is $231.64. Union Pacific Co. has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $258.07. The company has a market capitalization of $133.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.12, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.73 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. The company had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.11 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.69 earnings per share. The business's revenue was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, May 30th will be given a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.40%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is currently 48.29%.

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.