Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Given Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) has earned an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty ratings firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $259.61.

Several research analysts recently commented on the company. UBS Group raised their target price on Union Pacific from $235.00 to $248.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Susquehanna lifted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, April 26th. TD Cowen increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $252.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, April 26th. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $280.00 price target for the company in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Union Pacific from $237.00 to $243.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 9th.

Union Pacific Price Performance

NYSE:UNP opened at $244.97 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.76. Union Pacific has a one year low of $190.71 and a one year high of $258.66. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $241.46 and a 200 day moving average price of $238.64. The stock has a market cap of $149.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.38, a PEG ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 1.06.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.69 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.50 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a net margin of 26.52% and a return on equity of 44.34%. The business had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.97 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.67 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down .4% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Union Pacific will post 11.24 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 28th. Investors of record on Friday, May 31st will be issued a $1.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 31st. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.12%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 49.62%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Union Pacific

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in UNP. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Richardson Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the 1st quarter worth $26,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 211.4% during the fourth quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 109 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, Scarborough Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.