Vestcor Inc Trims Position in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Vestcor Inc cut its stake in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 29.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 11,640 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 4,825 shares during the period. Vestcor Inc’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $2,751,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Norges Bank bought a new position in Union Pacific during the second quarter valued at approximately $1,856,340,000. Fisher Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 0.5% during the third quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 6,428,229 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,519,441,000 after buying an additional 29,514 shares during the period. Amundi lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 35.6% during the second quarter. Amundi now owns 4,782,577 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,134,236,000 after buying an additional 1,255,231 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,693,498 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $873,018,000 after buying an additional 101,776 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its position in Union Pacific by 32.8% during the 2nd quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 3,152,042 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $725,222,000 after buying an additional 778,411 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on UNP shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $245.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed a “market perform” rating and issued a $295.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $280.00 target price on Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, December 18th. Barclays reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $285.00 price objective (up from $270.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $265.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $263.77.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP stock opened at $250.16 on Wednesday. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $245.61 and its 200 day moving average price is $233.41. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $268.14. The company has a quick ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64. The stock has a market capitalization of $148.44 billion, a PE ratio of 20.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 0.95.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.92 by ($0.06). The business had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.15 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.89% and a net margin of 29.12%.The company’s revenue was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.91 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be given a $1.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.2%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 46.12%.

Union Pacific Company Profile

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services.

Union Pacific’s core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western two‑thirds of the United States.