Arizona State Retirement System Purchases 2,238 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Arizona State Retirement System grew its position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 1.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 164,735 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,238 shares during the period. Arizona State Retirement System’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $44,808,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Tucker Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. SWAN Capital LLC lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 2,575.0% during the fourth quarter. SWAN Capital LLC now owns 107 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Scarborough Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the first quarter valued at about $27,000. Finally, Merkkuri Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the first quarter valued at about $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.3%

UNP stock traded down $0.94 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $288.68. 1,783,226 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,062,486. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $294.29 and its 200-day moving average is $271.18. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12 month low of $210.84 and a 12 month high of $315.99. The company has a market cap of $171.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.37, a PEG ratio of 2.88 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.82.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.26 by $0.15. The company had revenue of $6.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.72 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 38.46% and a net margin of 28.85%.The company’s quarterly revenue was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.03 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 13.02 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Monday, August 31st will be given a $1.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 31st. This represents a $5.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.0%. This is a boost from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 45.99%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UNP has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. UBS Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $310.00 price target (up from $286.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $339.00 price objective (up from $289.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Bank of America increased their target price on Union Pacific from $301.00 to $334.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $326.00 to $349.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, July 24th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group set a $317.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $320.89.

About Union Pacific

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.