Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Receives Average Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from Analysts

Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) has earned an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from the eighteen analysts that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $255.00.

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. TD Cowen boosted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $228.00 to $251.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Benchmark boosted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $266.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 10th. Raymond James boosted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $240.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. UBS Group upped their price objective on Union Pacific from $235.00 to $248.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on Union Pacific from $231.00 to $248.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, April 12th.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,750 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $937,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now owns 56,682 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $14,170,500. The sale 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 Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. BluePath Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Richardson Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the 1st quarter worth about $26,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. raised 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 worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares during the period. Finally, Valued Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.8 %

NYSE UNP traded up $1.82 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $236.29. The stock had a trading volume of 1,980,821 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,306,394. Union Pacific has a 1 year low of $190.37 and a 1 year high of $258.66. The stock has a market cap of $144.16 billion, a PE ratio of 22.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $245.03 and a 200 day moving average price of $234.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.11, a current ratio of 0.81 and a quick ratio of 0.67.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.71 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.56 by $0.15. The company had revenue of $6.16 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.05 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 26.45% and a return on equity of 46.87%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down .3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.67 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Union Pacific will post 11.01 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

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

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.