Kentucky Retirement Systems Sells 331 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Kentucky Retirement Systems decreased its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 0.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 45,977 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 331 shares during the quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems’ holdings in Union Pacific were worth $10,403,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Seven Eight Capital LP bought a new stake in Union Pacific during the second quarter worth about $1,139,000. Lokken Investment Group LLC raised its stake in Union Pacific by 11.7% during the second quarter. Lokken Investment Group LLC now owns 3,976 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $900,000 after acquiring an additional 417 shares in the last quarter. CCLA Investment Management raised its stake in Union Pacific by 14.0% during the second quarter. CCLA Investment Management now owns 346,636 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $77,525,000 after acquiring an additional 42,561 shares in the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL raised its stake in Union Pacific by 13.9% during the second quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 600,134 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $135,786,000 after acquiring an additional 73,036 shares in the last quarter. Finally, O Brien Greene & Co. Inc raised its stake in Union Pacific by 4.0% during the second quarter. O Brien Greene & Co. Inc now owns 39,781 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $9,001,000 after acquiring an additional 1,519 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,552 shares of the stock in a transaction 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 transaction, the president now directly owns 64,945 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,014,787.55. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Union Pacific stock opened at $251.13 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $152.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.96, a PEG ratio of 2.24 and a beta of 1.05. Union Pacific Co. has a 52-week low of $199.33 and a 52-week high of $258.66. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $244.75 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $239.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.89, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.71 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $6.01 billion for 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 company’s revenue for the quarter was up .7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.57 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.11 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 30th 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 2.13%. This is a boost from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 30th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 51.15%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have commented on UNP shares. TD Cowen lowered their target price on Union Pacific from $259.00 to $255.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, June 7th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $270.00 target price for the company. Barclays lowered their target price on Union Pacific from $290.00 to $280.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $290.00 to $273.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 8th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 18th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $258.79.

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.