State of Michigan Retirement System Cuts Stock Position in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

State of Michigan Retirement System cut its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 160,345 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 2,100 shares during the quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $37,901,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Howard Hughes Medical Institute purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at about $30,000. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Total Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Access Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific during the second quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Sagard Holdings Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the second quarter worth $33,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $267.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. Susquehanna reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Monday, January 19th. BMO Capital Markets set a $255.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Citigroup reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $270.00 price objective (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Barclays reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $285.00 target price (up previously from $270.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $258.32.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE UNP opened at $252.92 on Friday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $233.86 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $227.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.60. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1 year low of $204.66 and a 1 year high of $253.29. The stock has a market capitalization of $150.02 billion, a PE ratio of 21.13, a P/E/G ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 0.98.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.92 by ($0.06). The firm had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate 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 for the quarter was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.91 EPS. Analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

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 dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 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.