Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) Stock Now Rated "Moderate Buy" by Wall Street Analysts

Key Points

• Analysts rate Union Pacific a “Moderate Buy”: Of 21 covering analysts, 17 recommend buying or strong buying and four recommend holding. Their average 12-month price target is $326.44.
• Quarterly results topped estimates: Union Pacific reported $3.53 in earnings per share and $7.20 billion in revenue, above consensus forecasts; revenue rose 15.3% year over year.
• Shares opened at $303.62 and were reported down 1.1%; the stock’s 12-month trading range is $216.32 to $315.99.

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) has earned an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the twenty-one analysts that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $326.44.

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Benchmark raised their target price on Union Pacific from $325.00 to $335.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, July 24th. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on Union Pacific from $311.00 to $344.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, July 27th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $328.00 price target on Union Pacific in a report on Friday, October 23rd. Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $301.00 to $334.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Finally, TD Cowen reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $328.00 target price (up from $325.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, October 23rd.

Union Pacific Stock Down 1.1%

Shares of NYSE UNP opened at $303.62 on Wednesday. Union Pacific has a 12-month low of $216.32 and a 12-month high of $315.99. The company has a market cap of $180.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.66, a P/E/G ratio of 3.03 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a current ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $287.36 and a 200 day moving average price of $270.83.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 22nd. The railroad operator reported $3.53 EPS 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 posted $3.08 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was up 15.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific will post 13.13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. University of Texas Texas AM Investment Management Co. lifted its position in Union Pacific by 449.3% during the third quarter. University of Texas Texas AM Investment Management Co. now owns 10,778 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $2,933,000 after acquiring an additional 8,816 shares during the last quarter. Elite Wealth Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 191.1% during the third quarter. Elite Wealth Management Inc. now owns 17,876 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $4,865,000 after acquiring an additional 11,736 shares during the period. M Holdings Securities Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the third quarter valued at approximately $1,040,000. Avantax Planning Partners Inc. grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.1% in the third quarter. Avantax Planning Partners Inc. now owns 5,165 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,405,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Brighton Jones LLC grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.0% in the third quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 16,573 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $4,510,000 after purchasing an additional 159 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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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