Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) Receives $260.14 Average Price Target from Analysts

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) has been given an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the twenty-four analysts that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Ten research 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. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $263.7727.

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on UNP shares. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $280.00 price target on Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. Citigroup reissued a “buy” rating and set a $270.00 price objective (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Union Pacific from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $265.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $245.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, December 11th.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UNP opened at $260.04 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $244.48 and a 200-day simple moving average of $232.70. The company has a quick ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64. The stock has a market capitalization of $154.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 0.95. Union Pacific has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $268.14.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.92 by ($0.06). The business had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.15 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 29.12% and a return on equity of 40.89%. The firm’s revenue was down .6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.91 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Union Pacific will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be issued a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is presently 46.12%.

Institutional Trading of Union Pacific

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Cedarwood Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $247,000. Mengis Capital Management Inc. raised its position in Union Pacific by 50.5% in the fourth quarter. Mengis Capital Management Inc. now owns 8,995 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,081,000 after purchasing an additional 3,020 shares during the period. Bayban purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $195,000. Pure Financial Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 11.8% in the 4th quarter. Pure Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,365 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $778,000 after purchasing an additional 356 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Rehmann Capital Advisory Group grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group now owns 6,637 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,535,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

About Union Pacific

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.