Brokerages Set Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Price Target at $261.40

Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) has been assigned an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the twenty ratings firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, six have given a hold recommendation, twelve have issued a buy recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $261.40.

UNP has been the topic of a number of research reports. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $288.00 to $283.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. TD Cowen upped their price target on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, Robert W. Baird upped their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

UNP traded up $0.58 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $247.64. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,425,381 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,682,240. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. Union Pacific has a fifty-two week low of $218.55 and a fifty-two week high of $258.66. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $237.20 and a 200 day simple moving average of $240.57. The firm has a market capitalization of $149.64 billion, a PE ratio of 22.33, a PEG ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 1.06.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates 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 period last year, the company posted $2.71 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Union Pacific will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.16%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.33%.

Insider Activity

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 24th. The stock was 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 in the company, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This represents a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total value of $1,636,740.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,632,388. The trade was a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Compass Financial Services Inc acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. EnRich Financial Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $31,000. Finally, Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the third quarter worth $32,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.