Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Now Covered by Analysts at Erste Group Bank

Key Points

• Erste Group Bank initiated coverage of Union Pacific with a “buy” rating. The broader analyst consensus is “Moderate Buy,” with an average price target of $320.89.
• Union Pacific shares fell 0.7% to $308.30, near their 52-week high of $315.99, while the company reported quarterly EPS of $3.41 and revenue of $6.86 billion—both above analyst expectations.
• Institutional investors own approximately 80.38% of Union Pacific’s shares, while an executive vice president recently sold 2,991 shares worth about $789,500.

Erste Group Bank initiated coverage on shares of Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) in a research note issued to investors on Thursday. The brokerage set a "buy" rating on the railroad operator's stock.

Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Citizens Jmp initiated coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $350.00 price objective on the stock. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $326.00 to $349.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Union Pacific from a "buy (b-)" rating to a "buy (b)" rating in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an "outperform" rating and issued a $339.00 target price (up from $289.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, July 24th. Finally, Benchmark upped their price target on Union Pacific from $325.00 to $335.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, July 24th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $320.89.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.7%

Shares of UNP traded down $2.32 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $308.30. 613,910 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,088,888. Union Pacific has a fifty-two week low of $210.84 and a fifty-two week high of $315.99. The business has a 50-day moving average of $289.07 and a 200-day moving average of $269.15. The firm has a market capitalization of $183.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.16 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.82.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $3.26 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $6.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.72 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.85% and a return on equity of 38.46%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.03 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Union Pacific will post 12.93 EPS for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total value of $789,504.36. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 43,012 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $11,353,447.52. This trade represents a 6.50% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.22% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of UNP. Tucker Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at about $25,000. SWAN Capital LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 2,575.0% in the 4th quarter. SWAN Capital LLC now owns 107 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 103 shares during the period. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Scarborough Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 1st quarter valued at $27,000. Finally, Merkkuri Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the first quarter worth $29,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Union Pacific

Union Pacific Corporation NYSE: UNP is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services.

Union Pacific's core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western two‑thirds of the United States.

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