Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Upgraded at Citigroup

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities research analysts at Citigroup from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday, MarketBeat reports. The firm presently has a $244.00 target price on the railroad operator's stock, down from their previous target price of $260.00. Citigroup's price objective points to a potential upside of 11.70% from the company's current price.

UNP has been the subject of a number of other reports. Susquehanna cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $255.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. UBS Group decreased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. TD Cowen boosted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Benchmark increased their price target on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Loop Capital downgraded Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $265.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $258.48.

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Union Pacific Price Performance

NYSE:UNP traded down $0.89 on Tuesday, hitting $218.43. The company had a trading volume of 2,964,945 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,519,860. Union Pacific has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $258.07. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. The stock has a market capitalization of $130.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.70, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $237.48 and a two-hundred day moving average of $237.28.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.71 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total transaction of $1,636,740.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at $6,632,388. This trade represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $1,875,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the president now owns 64,960 shares of the company's stock, valued at $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Compass Financial Services Inc bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. EnRich Financial Partners LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. PrairieView Partners LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 38.8% in the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

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.