Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. Boosts Stock Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. grew its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 0.2% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,458,722 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,996 shares during the period. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. owned approximately 0.24% of Union Pacific worth $358,744,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Richardson Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the first quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 211.4% in the fourth quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 109 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 74 shares during the last quarter. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Scarborough Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP stock traded up $2.05 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $227.55. 306,373 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,288,383. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $233.11 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $240.20. The stock has a market capitalization of $138.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.52, a P/E/G ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 1.07. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $199.33 and a 12-month high of $258.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 0.93.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.50 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.97 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 44.34% and a net margin of 26.52%. The business’s quarterly revenue was down .4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.67 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.22 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 28th. Investors of record on Friday, May 31st were issued a dividend of $1.30 per share. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.29%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 31st. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 49.62%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have commented on UNP. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Union Pacific from $198.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, April 26th. Susquehanna decreased their price target on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $250.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, June 25th. Raymond James restated a “strong-buy” rating and set a $280.00 price target (up from $275.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, April 26th. Stifel Nicolaus upgraded Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their price target for the stock from $248.00 to $267.00 in a research note on Friday, May 3rd. Finally, Evercore ISI upped their price target on Union Pacific from $271.00 to $273.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, April 26th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $258.92.

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.