CCLA Investment Management Grows Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

CCLA Investment Management lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 14.0% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 346,636 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 42,561 shares during the quarter. CCLA Investment Management owned 0.06% of Union Pacific worth $77,525,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of UNP. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Richardson Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the 1st quarter valued at $26,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. raised its position in Union Pacific by 211.4% in the 4th quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 109 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 74 shares during the last quarter. Cultivar Capital Inc. purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Finally, Scarborough Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. StockNews.com lowered Union Pacific from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 18th. TD Cowen decreased their target price on Union Pacific from $259.00 to $255.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 26th. Susquehanna decreased their target price on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $250.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, June 25th. Benchmark reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $266.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Monday, July 29th. Finally, Loop Capital downgraded Union Pacific from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and cut their price target for the stock from $276.00 to $238.00 in a research note on Monday, June 17th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $258.79.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP traded down $2.42 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $251.13. 1,568,163 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,252,152. The stock has a market cap of $152.99 billion, a PE ratio of 23.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.24 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.89. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $244.75 and its 200-day simple moving average is $239.16. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $199.33 and a 12 month high of $258.66.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.71 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $6.01 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.05 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 42.62% and a net margin of 26.90%. The company's revenue for the quarter was up .7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.57 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.11 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 30th will be given a $1.34 dividend. This is an increase 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 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.13%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is presently 51.15%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Union Pacific news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,552 shares of the company'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 value of $875,887.68. Following the completion of the sale, the president now owns 64,945 shares of the company's stock, valued at $16,014,787.55. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.28% of the stock is owned by 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.