Renaissance Investment Group LLC Reduces Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Renaissance Investment Group LLC decreased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 1.2% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 49,499 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 592 shares during the period. Union Pacific makes up approximately 2.5% of Renaissance Investment Group LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 15th largest holding. Renaissance Investment Group LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $12,201,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of UNP. Richardson Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the first quarter worth about $26,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 211.4% during the fourth quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 109 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares during the period. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the second quarter worth about $28,000. Scarborough Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. Finally, Cultivar Capital Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the second quarter worth about $27,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Up 1.5 %

Shares of UNP opened at $242.31 on Friday. 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 one year low of $199.97 and a one year high of $258.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $147.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.75, a PEG ratio of 2.21 and a beta of 1.05. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $245.67 and a 200 day moving average price of $238.59.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.74 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 firm had revenue of $6.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.05 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.57 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up .7% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 30th were given a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.21%. This is a boost from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 30th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is presently 50.33%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UNP has been the subject of a number of research reports. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. Citigroup initiated coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Wednesday. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $264.00 price target for the company. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on Union Pacific from $280.00 to $275.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 20th. Susquehanna boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Finally, Loop Capital downgraded Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and decreased their price target for the company from $276.00 to $238.00 in a report on Monday, June 17th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $259.50.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,552 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 30th. The stock was 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 in the company, valued at approximately $16,014,787.55. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.28% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.