Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Boosts Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board increased its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 8.3% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,218,730 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 322,129 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific makes up about 0.9% of Canada Pension Plan Investment Board’s portfolio, making the stock its 16th biggest holding. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board owned approximately 0.69% of Union Pacific worth $954,530,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Benjamin Edwards Inc. grew its position in Union Pacific by 8.2% in the second quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 2,453 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $555,000 after acquiring an additional 185 shares during the period. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 9.3% during the 2nd quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 17,008 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $3,848,000 after purchasing an additional 1,443 shares during the period. Clifford Group LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. Clifford Group LLC now owns 3,360 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $760,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares during the last quarter. Ieq Capital LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.6% in the 2nd quarter. Ieq Capital LLC now owns 28,408 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $6,427,000 after buying an additional 444 shares during the period. Finally, Intech Investment Management LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific by 41.9% in the second quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 44,869 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $10,152,000 after buying an additional 13,244 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE:UNP opened at $248.44 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $151.35 billion, a PE ratio of 23.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.24 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.89, a current ratio of 1.05 and a quick ratio of 0.86. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $245.15 and its 200 day moving average price is $239.23. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $199.33 and a 12 month high of $258.66.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.74 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.71 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $6.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.05 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 42.62% and a net margin of 26.90%. The firm’s revenue was up .7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.57 earnings per share. On average, sell-side 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 announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 30th will be issued a $1.34 dividend. This is a boost from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 30th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.16%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 51.15%.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,552 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $246.59, for a total value of $875,887.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now owns 64,945 shares in the company, valued at $16,014,787.55. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Daiwa America cut shares of Union Pacific from a “moderate buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 4th. TD Cowen decreased their price target on Union Pacific from $259.00 to $255.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an “outperform” rating and set a $275.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, September 12th. Sanford C. Bernstein cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $290.00 to $273.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 8th. Finally, Susquehanna lowered their target price on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $250.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, June 25th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus 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.