The Goldman Sachs Group Raises Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Price Target to $274.00

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) had its price target raised by The Goldman Sachs Group from $248.00 to $274.00 in a report published on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a buy rating on the railroad operator's stock.

A number of other research analysts have also issued reports on UNP. Susquehanna increased their target price on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $255.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, March 28th. UBS Group increased their target price on Union Pacific from $235.00 to $248.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, January 26th. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $275.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, January 26th. StockNews.com lowered Union Pacific from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, March 18th. Finally, Benchmark increased their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $266.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $252.78.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UNP traded down $0.71 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $236.14. 1,692,332 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,318,011. The firm has a market cap of $144.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.53, a PEG ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 1.07. Union Pacific has a twelve month low of $190.37 and a twelve month high of $258.66. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $247.58 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $232.56. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.11.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.71 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.56 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $6.16 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.05 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 26.45% and a return on equity of 46.87%. The business's revenue was down .3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.67 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Union Pacific will post 10.97 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 29th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 29th were issued a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 28th. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.20%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is presently 49.71%.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In other news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,750 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $937,500.00. Following the transaction, the president now owns 56,682 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,170,500. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.26% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Union Pacific

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. grew its position in Union Pacific by 211.4% in the 4th quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 109 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $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 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Scarborough Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Finally, BluePath Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Company Profile

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.