Bank of Nova Scotia holds $86.23 million in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Bank of Nova Scotia reduced its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP – Free Report) by 53.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company's most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 351,141 shares of the railroad operator after selling 408,744 shares during the quarter. According to its most recent filing with the SEC, Bank of Nova Scotia owned 0.06% of Union Pacific worth $86,230,000.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,832,127,000. Clearbridge Investments LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 108.9% in the 3rd quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 4,128,575 shares of the railroad operator valued at $840,702,000 after buying an additional 2,151,893 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 62.8% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 5,496,708 shares of the railroad operator valued at $1,119,295,000 after buying an additional 2,119,382 shares in the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 65.5% in the 3rd quarter. Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 2,348,496 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $478,224,000 after purchasing an additional 929,495 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cerity Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 331.7% in the 4th quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 1,143,298 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $280,817,000 after purchasing an additional 878,490 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Trading increases by 2.1%

Union Pacific stock rose $4.85 in midday trading on Friday, reaching $232.82. 5,524,511 shares traded hands, compared to an average volume of 1,931,043. The company has a 50-day moving average of $238.67 and a 200-day moving average of $240.34. Union Pacific Co. has a 52-week low of $191.11 and a 52-week high of $258.66. The stock has a market cap of $142.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.22, a PEG ratio of 1.89 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a quick ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 25. The railroad operator reported earnings per share of $2.69 for the quarter, beating 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 net margin of 26.52% and a return on equity of 44.34%. Union Pacific's quarterly revenue declined 0.4% compared to the year-ago quarter. In the year-ago quarter, the company generated earnings per share of $2.67. Equities analysts expect Union Pacific Co. to report earnings per share of $11.25 for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 31st will receive a dividend of $1.30 per share, with the ex-dividend date being Friday, May 31st. This represents an annualized dividend of $5.20 and a yield of 2.23%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 49.62%.

Analysts set new price targets

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on UNP shares. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $248.00 to $274.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $237.00 to $243.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 9th. TD Cowen increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $252.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, April 26th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $198.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, April 26th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their price target on the stock from $248.00 to $267.00 in a report on Friday, May 3. Six analysts have rated the stock with a “hold” rating, thirteen have given a “buy” rating and one has assigned a “strong buy” rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $259.61.

Get our latest research report on Union Pacific

About Union Pacific

(Free report)

Union Pacific Corporation, through its subsidiary Union Pacific Railroad Company, is engaged in the railroad business in the United States. The company provides transportation services for grain and grain products, fertilizers, food and refrigerated products, and coal and renewable energy to grain processors, animal feed manufacturers, ethanol producers, renewable biofuel producers and other agricultural users; building products, industrial chemicals, plastics, forest products, specialty products, metals and ores, petroleum, liquefied petroleum gases, soda ash and sand; and finished automobiles, auto parts and intermodal containerized goods.

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