Arvest Investments Inc. Cuts Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Arvest Investments Inc. decreased its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 1.4% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 6,538 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 96 shares during the period. Arvest Investments Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,545,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. EnRich Financial Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at about $31,000. PrairieView Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at about $34,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 38.8% during the fourth quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Kentucky Trust Co purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at about $40,000. Finally, Stonebridge Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at about $45,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

NYSE UNP opened at $225.70 on Thursday. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $220.28 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $231.96. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $258.07. The firm has a market capitalization of $134.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.35, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.73 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. The firm had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.11 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.69 earnings per share. Union Pacific’s revenue for the quarter was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be issued a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.37%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 48.29%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently commented on UNP. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. Citigroup raised shares of Union Pacific from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lowered their price target for the company from $260.00 to $244.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 14th. Susquehanna lowered their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, March 7th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $295.00 price target for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $257.74.

Union Pacific Company 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.