Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) Shares Bought by Arizona State Retirement System

Arizona State Retirement System lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 0.9% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 177,920 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 1,573 shares during the period. Arizona State Retirement System's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $42,032,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Allred Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 0.5% in the fourth quarter. Allred Capital Management LLC now owns 8,349 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,904,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. Palogic Value Management L.P. raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Palogic Value Management L.P. now owns 2,823 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $644,000 after buying an additional 42 shares during the period. Mystic Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. Mystic Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,309 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $527,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL grew its position in Union Pacific by 38.8% in the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $39,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ironwood Investment Counsel LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.3% in the fourth quarter. Ironwood Investment Counsel LLC now owns 3,458 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $789,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.8%

UNP traded down $1.99 during trading on Friday, hitting $235.01. The company's stock had a trading volume of 3,211,722 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,739,891. Union Pacific Corporation has a twelve month low of $204.66 and a twelve month high of $258.07. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $226.11 and its 200-day moving average price is $231.14. The stock has a market cap of $140.41 billion, a PE ratio of 21.17, a PEG ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91, a current ratio of 0.73 and a quick ratio of 0.61.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.73 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.76% and a return on equity of 40.80%. The business had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.11 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.69 EPS. The business's revenue was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th were given a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.28%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 48.29%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. Argus raised shares of Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. Robert W. Baird began coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $231.00 price target for the company. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on Union Pacific from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 7th. Barclays raised their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Susquehanna upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "positive" rating and raised their target price for the stock from $245.00 to $260.00 in a research report on Tuesday, June 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $256.63.

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.