Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) Given Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) has been given a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the twenty-eight brokerages that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, sixteen have assigned a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $260.3333.

Several brokerages have issued reports on UNP. Barclays reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $285.00 target price (up previously from $270.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $267.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, October 24th. BMO Capital Markets reduced their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $277.00 to $275.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 24th. Finally, UBS Group set a $253.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, October 3rd.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.1%

NYSE UNP opened at $234.25 on Friday. Union Pacific has a one year low of $204.66 and a one year high of $256.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.75, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.75. The company has a market capitalization of $138.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.99. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $226.84 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $226.31.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.99 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $6.24 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.24 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.73% and a return on equity of 42.23%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.75 earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that Union Pacific will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 5th will be paid a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 5th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.90%.

Key Stores Impacting Union Pacific

Here are the key news stories impacting Union Pacific this week:

• Positive Sentiment: UNP and Norfolk Southern filed a nearly 7,000‑page application with the STB to create a coast‑to‑coast railroad — a major step that advances potential scale, network efficiencies and revenue synergies. Union Pacific kicks off regulatory review for $85 bln coast‑to‑coast rail merger
• Positive Sentiment: Bank of America raised its price target on UNP (to $266), signaling some analysts see upside if the deal and integration deliver on promised efficiencies. Union Pacific price target raised to $266 from $260 at BofA
• Neutral Sentiment: The filing starts a formal STB review period (the regulator has 30 days to request more information or propose initial remedies), so near‑term timing and conditions are uncertain. Union Pacific, Norfolk submit papers for regulatory review of $85 billion merger
• Neutral Sentiment: Management scheduled an analyst call to walk through the STB application — useful for investors seeking detail on projected cost savings, capital plans and integration risks. Analyst call to review STB merger application
• Negative Sentiment: Regulators will weigh whether the merger improves service or stifles competition; the NYT notes significant scrutiny and a decision timeline stretching to 2027, raising execution and regulatory risk. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern Try Making Their Case for a Merger
• Negative Sentiment: Some analysts remain skeptical about UNP’s near‑term share performance and the deal’s risk profile, highlighting potential for regulatory remedies, prolonged review or integration setbacks. Deutsche Bank Analyst Skeptical about Union Pacific

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Union Pacific

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. grew its stake in Union Pacific by 183.8% during the 1st quarter. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. now owns 10,238 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,419,000 after buying an additional 6,631 shares during the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 24.6% in the first quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 5,005 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,182,000 after acquiring an additional 988 shares in the last quarter. Ethic Inc. grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 9.3% during the first quarter. Ethic Inc. now owns 34,421 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $8,164,000 after acquiring an additional 2,936 shares during the last quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 2.7% during the first quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV now owns 3,854 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $911,000 after acquiring an additional 101 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Forvis Mazars Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 5.9% during the first quarter. Forvis Mazars Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 12,561 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,967,000 after acquiring an additional 695 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Company Profile

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services.

Union Pacific’s core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western two‑thirds of the United States.