Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Shares Sold by Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado

Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado trimmed its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 3.9% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 81,269 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 3,293 shares during the period. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $18,533,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of UNP. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth $1,927,377,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at about $1,035,905,000. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 12.6% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,430,581 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $3,282,305,000 after acquiring an additional 1,616,895 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 14.3% during the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,395,364 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,370,559,000 after acquiring an additional 1,298,178 shares during the period. Finally, Vontobel Holding Ltd. boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 74.7% during the 4th quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 2,146,990 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $489,600,000 after acquiring an additional 918,248 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently commented on UNP. Susquehanna lowered their target price on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 25th. Stephens decreased their price objective on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday. UBS Group decreased their price objective on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Barclays decreased their price objective on Union Pacific from $285.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 25th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $257.86.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

UNP stock traded down $1.67 during trading on Thursday, hitting $213.99. The company had a trading volume of 4,458,500 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,589,132. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $229.73 and a 200-day moving average price of $235.15. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. The firm has a market cap of $127.85 billion, a PE ratio of 19.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a 1-year low of $204.66 and a 1-year high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.73 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. The company had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.11 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.69 EPS. Union Pacific's revenue for the quarter was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect 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 was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.50%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 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.