Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Shares Sold by Maryland State Retirement & Pension System

Maryland State Retirement & Pension System lessened its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 47,554 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 308 shares during the quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $10,760,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Navalign LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 4.2% during the 2nd quarter. Navalign LLC now owns 5,729 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,296,000 after purchasing an additional 230 shares during the period. Bryn Mawr Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 8.5% during the second quarter. Bryn Mawr Capital Management LLC now owns 23,622 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $5,371,000 after acquiring an additional 1,843 shares during the period. Values Added Financial LLC raised its position in Union Pacific by 15.6% in the second quarter. Values Added Financial LLC now owns 1,023 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $231,000 after acquiring an additional 138 shares in the last quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at $14,041,000. Finally, Arrow Financial Corp boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 0.9% during the 2nd quarter. Arrow Financial Corp now owns 8,800 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,991,000 after purchasing an additional 82 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Trading Up 1.7 %

NYSE UNP traded up $4.21 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $256.09. 2,386,564 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,260,287. The stock has a market capitalization of $156.01 billion, a PE ratio of 24.44, a PEG ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.89, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 1.05. Union Pacific Co. has a 1-year low of $199.33 and a 1-year high of $258.66. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $237.06 and its 200 day simple moving average is $239.12.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.71 by $0.03. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 42.62% and a net margin of 26.90%. The business had revenue of $6.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.05 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.57 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up .7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 30th will be issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. This is a positive change from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.09%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 30th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 49.62%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,552 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $246.59, for a total transaction of $875,887.68. Following the completion of the sale, the president now directly owns 64,945 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,014,787.55. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on UNP shares. Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $266.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Monday, July 29th. TD Cowen dropped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $259.00 to $255.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, July 26th. Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, June 7th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $270.00 price target on the stock. Susquehanna dropped their price objective on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $250.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, June 25th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price objective on Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $258.79.

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.