Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Reaches New 52-Week Low - Time to Sell?

Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low during trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $218.50 and last traded at $220.65, with a volume of 5517 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $223.97.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently issued reports on UNP shares. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Susquehanna reduced their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $255.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Guggenheim upped their target price on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $261.95.

Union Pacific Stock Down 1.6 %

The stock has a market capitalization of $125.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $242.01 and a 200 day moving average price of $238.66.

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

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.55%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is presently 48.33%.

Insider Activity

In other Union Pacific news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $1,875,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the stock in a transaction 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 completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at $6,632,388. The trade was a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Union Pacific

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Allred Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 0.5% during the fourth quarter. Allred Capital Management LLC now owns 8,349 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,904,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Palogic Value Management L.P. lifted its position in Union Pacific by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Palogic Value Management L.P. now owns 2,823 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $644,000 after buying an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. Roble Belko & Company Inc lifted its position in Union Pacific by 26.8% in the 4th quarter. Roble Belko & Company Inc now owns 213 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $49,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Pflug Koory LLC grew its position in Union Pacific by 0.5% during the fourth quarter. Pflug Koory LLC now owns 8,569 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,954,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Baron Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 3.3% during the fourth quarter. Baron Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,409 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $321,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is 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.