Northwest & Ethical Investments L.P. Buys 90,270 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Northwest & Ethical Investments L.P. boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 267.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 124,030 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 90,270 shares during the period. Union Pacific makes up approximately 0.8% of Northwest & Ethical Investments L.P.’s holdings, making the stock its 25th largest holding. Northwest & Ethical Investments L.P.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $30,571,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Shellback Capital LP increased its stake in Union Pacific by 28.2% in the second quarter. Shellback Capital LP now owns 20,000 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $4,525,000 after acquiring an additional 4,400 shares during the period. Peoples Bank KS bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 3rd quarter worth about $834,000. Maj Invest Holding A S increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Maj Invest Holding A S now owns 676,098 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $166,645,000 after purchasing an additional 2,202 shares in the last quarter. Radnor Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter valued at about $2,923,000. Finally, Signature Estate & Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in Union Pacific by 190.5% during the third quarter. Signature Estate & Investment Advisors LLC now owns 4,430 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,092,000 after buying an additional 2,905 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP traded down $0.40 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $245.23. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 2,040,774 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,321,640. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79. Union Pacific Co. has a 1-year low of $218.55 and a 1-year high of $258.66. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $240.19 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $238.51. The stock has a market cap of $148.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.52, a PEG ratio of 2.47 and a beta of 1.06.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.78 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.79% and a net margin of 27.33%. The firm had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.14 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.51 EPS. Union Pacific’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.94 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 Monday, December 30th. Investors of record on Monday, December 9th will be given a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.19%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is 49.22%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have recently commented on the company. Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $260.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. Raymond James raised their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 14th. Daiwa America downgraded Union Pacific from a “moderate buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 4th. Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $266.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Evercore ISI downgraded Union Pacific from an “outperform” rating to an “inline” rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $254.00 to $247.00 in a research report on Wednesday, September 25th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $259.80.

Union Pacific Company 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.