Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Stock Price Expected to Rise, Susquehanna Analyst Says

Key Points

• Susquehanna raised Union Pacific’s price target to $345 from $333 and maintained a positive rating, implying 16.23% upside from the prior close.
• Analyst sentiment remains favorable, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $326.44; several firms recently issued or reiterated Buy-equivalent ratings.
• Union Pacific exceeded quarterly expectations, reporting $3.53 in adjusted earnings per share versus a $3.47 consensus estimate, while revenue rose 15.3% year over year to $7.20 billion.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) had its price target upped by stock analysts at Susquehanna from $333.00 to $345.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. The firm presently has a "positive" rating on the railroad operator's stock. Susquehanna's target price would indicate a potential upside of 16.23% from the company's previous close.

A number of other research firms have also issued reports on UNP. Citizens Jmp started coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $350.00 target price on the stock. Citigroup reaffirmed a "market outperform" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday. Barclays reiterated an "overweight" rating and issued a $350.00 target price (up from $315.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Benchmark boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $325.00 to $335.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Finally, Erste Group Bank assumed coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, August 27th. They issued a "buy" rating for the company. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $326.44.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.1%

UNP stock traded down $0.15 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $296.82. The company's stock had a trading volume of 120,454 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,955,769. The company has a quick ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32. The company has a market capitalization of $176.38 billion, a PE ratio of 23.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.95. Union Pacific has a 12 month low of $215.53 and a 12 month high of $315.99. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $287.48 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $268.29.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 22nd. The railroad operator reported $3.53 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.47 by $0.06. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 37.54% and a net margin of 28.90%. The company had revenue of $7.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.16 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.08 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 15.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that Union Pacific will post 13.13 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Union Pacific

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. State Street Corp raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 4.9% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 27,890,598 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $7,586,243,000 after acquiring an additional 1,302,732 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE raised its position in Union Pacific by 0.4% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 14,527,563 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $3,951,497,000 after purchasing an additional 64,492 shares during the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc bought a new position in Union Pacific in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,193,135,000. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 4,617,313 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,120,251,000 after buying an additional 23,698 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter worth $1,094,677,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

About Union Pacific

Union Pacific Corporation NYSE: UNP is a transportation company that operates one of the largest freight railroad networks in the United States. Through its Union Pacific Railroad subsidiary, the company moves goods across the western two-thirds of the country, connecting major agricultural, industrial, energy, population and port markets.

Union Pacific transports a broad range of commodities and products, including agricultural goods, automotive shipments, chemicals, coal, industrial products, forest products and intermodal containers.

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