Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Price Target Lowered to $253.00 at Stifel Nicolaus

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) had its target price decreased by Stifel Nicolaus from $262.00 to $253.00 in a research report released on Thursday morning,Benzinga reports. Stifel Nicolaus currently has a buy rating on the railroad operator's stock.

UNP has been the subject of several other reports. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $277.00 to $272.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. Barclays lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. TD Cowen cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $252.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. Susquehanna decreased their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Citigroup increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $267.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $259.35.

Union Pacific Stock Up 1.7 %

NYSE:UNP traded up $4.02 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $234.88. 1,589,793 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,288,814. The company has a fifty day moving average of $234.49 and a 200 day moving average of $238.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 0.77. Union Pacific has a twelve month low of $218.55 and a twelve month high of $258.66. The company has a market capitalization of $142.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.57, a P/E/G ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 1.06.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.78 by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.14 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.33% and a return on equity of 41.79%. The business's revenue was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.51 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that Union Pacific will post 10.95 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 9th were given a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.28%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 9th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 49.22%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the second quarter valued at $28,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter worth about $30,000. Fairscale Capital LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the 2nd quarter valued at about $31,000. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. increased its stake in Union Pacific by 265.7% during the 3rd quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. now owns 128 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 93 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the third quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Hedge funds and other 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.