Retirement Systems of Alabama Sells 9,420 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Retirement Systems of Alabama lowered its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 317,924 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 9,420 shares during the period. Retirement Systems of Alabama owned approximately 0.05% of Union Pacific worth $78,362,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of UNP. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 2nd quarter worth $28,000. Cultivar Capital Inc. bought a new stake in Union Pacific during the second quarter worth about $27,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 3rd quarter worth about $30,000. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 265.7% during the 3rd quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. now owns 128 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fairscale Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the second quarter worth approximately $31,000. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.5 %

Shares of UNP stock traded up $1.28 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $234.99. 2,715,579 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,342,861. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79. The stock has a market cap of $142.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.46, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.05. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $238.46 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $238.27. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $218.55 and a 12-month high of $258.66.

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

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 9th will be issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.28%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 9th. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 49.22%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UNP has been the topic of several research reports. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $267.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th. Raymond James boosted their target price on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Monday, October 14th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on Union Pacific from $288.00 to $283.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Daiwa America lowered Union Pacific from a "moderate buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 4th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $259.80.

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.