Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Given "Outperform" Rating at Royal Bank of Canada

Royal Bank of Canada restated their outperform rating on shares of Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) in a research report released on Friday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $275.00 price target on the railroad operator's stock.

Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $290.00 to $280.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Loop Capital downgraded Union Pacific from a buy rating to a hold rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $276.00 to $238.00 in a research note on Monday, June 17th. StockNews.com cut Union Pacific from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 18th. Benchmark reiterated a buy rating and issued a $266.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Monday, July 29th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $258.79.

Union Pacific Trading Down 1.2 %

UNP traded down $3.05 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $245.39. 6,698,333 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,282,924. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $245.15 and its 200-day moving average price is $239.23. Union Pacific has a 1-year low of $199.33 and a 1-year high of $258.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $149.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.29, a P/E/G 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 quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.74 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.71 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $6.01 billion for 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 firm's quarterly revenue was up .7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.57 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Union Pacific will post 11.11 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 30th will be paid a $1.34 dividend. This is a positive change from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 30th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.18%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 51.15%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,552 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $246.59, for a total transaction of $875,887.68. Following the completion of the sale, the president now directly owns 64,945 shares of the company's stock, valued at $16,014,787.55. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Union Pacific

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Ameriprise Financial Inc. grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.3% during the 2nd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 8,312,154 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,880,701,000 after acquiring an additional 106,996 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors increased its position in Union Pacific by 7.6% in the first quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 7,370,752 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,812,689,000 after buying an additional 518,985 shares during the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 2.1% in the second quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 5,970,669 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,350,924,000 after buying an additional 124,571 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 5,856,266 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,438,417,000 after buying an additional 113,946 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Clearbridge Investments LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 5.7% during the 1st quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 4,396,974 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,081,348,000 after buying an additional 237,083 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

About Union Pacific

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.