Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Shares Purchased by Principal Financial Group Inc.

Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 4.4% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 927,992 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 39,014 shares during the quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned approximately 0.15% of Union Pacific worth $228,732,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. World Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 103.1% in the third quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC now owns 35,581 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $8,770,000 after buying an additional 18,060 shares in the last quarter. Shellback Capital LP raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 28.2% in the 2nd 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 last quarter. Peoples Bank KS purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $834,000. Maj Invest Holding A S boosted its holdings 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 during the last quarter. Finally, Radnor Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the third quarter valued at approximately $2,923,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Stock Up 1.4 %

Union Pacific stock traded up $3.17 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $226.32. 5,928,104 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,371,573. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79. Union Pacific Co. has a twelve month low of $218.55 and a twelve month high of $258.66. The company has a market cap of $137.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.78, a P/E/G ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a fifty day moving average of $237.26 and a 200-day moving average of $238.23.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.78 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.33% and a return on equity of 41.79%. The company had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.14 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.51 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.94 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 30th. Investors of record on Monday, December 9th will be paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 9th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.37%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 49.22%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently commented on UNP shares. Raymond James lifted their price objective on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday, October 14th. Daiwa America lowered Union Pacific from a "moderate buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, September 4th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $262.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Susquehanna decreased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $259.80.

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.