Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Receives $258.79 Average Price Target from Brokerages

Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) has been assigned an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the twenty ratings firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $258.79.

A number of research analysts have weighed in on UNP shares. Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Friday, June 7th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $270.00 target price for the company. Loop Capital lowered Union Pacific from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and reduced their target price for the company from $276.00 to $238.00 in a report on Monday, June 17th. Susquehanna reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $250.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, June 25th. BMO Capital Markets reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $280.00 to $275.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Friday. Finally, TD Cowen dropped their price target on Union Pacific from $259.00 to $255.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 26th.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

UNP traded down $3.05 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $245.39. The stock had a trading volume of 6,698,333 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,283,496. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $245.45 and its 200 day simple moving average is $239.17. Union Pacific has a 1 year low of $199.33 and a 1 year high of $258.66. The stock has a market cap of $149.49 billion, a PE ratio of 23.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.24 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a quick ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.89.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.74 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.71 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $6.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.05 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 42.62% and a net margin of 26.90%. The company's quarterly revenue was up .7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.57 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Union Pacific will post 11.11 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 30th will be paid a $1.34 dividend. This is an increase from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.18%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 30th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is presently 51.15%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,552 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $246.59, for a total transaction of $875,887.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now owns 64,945 shares of the company's stock, valued at $16,014,787.55. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Union Pacific

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Capital Research Global Investors increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 23.1% during the fourth quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 6,851,767 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,682,931,000 after acquiring an additional 1,285,144 shares in the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 272.3% during the second quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 1,678,108 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $379,689,000 after acquiring an additional 1,227,318 shares in the last quarter. Winslow Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $293,162,000. Capital World Investors increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 35.3% during the first quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 4,118,477 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,012,857,000 after acquiring an additional 1,073,625 shares in the last quarter. Finally, TD Asset Management Inc increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 115.3% during the fourth quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 1,070,123 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $262,844,000 after acquiring an additional 573,072 shares in the last quarter. 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.