Union Pacific Target of Unusually High Options Trading (NYSE:UNP)

Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) was the recipient of some unusual options trading on Thursday. Stock traders purchased 9,004 call options on the company. This represents an increase of approximately 84% compared to the average volume of 4,901 call options.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,750 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $937,500.00. Following the transaction, the president now owns 56,682 shares in the company, valued at $14,170,500. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Union Pacific

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Advocate Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 4.9% in the first quarter. Advocate Group LLC now owns 33,196 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $8,164,000 after buying an additional 1,538 shares during the period. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 26.3% in the first quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 310,416 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $76,341,000 after buying an additional 64,548 shares during the period. MTM Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.2% in the first quarter. MTM Investment Management LLC now owns 6,450 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,586,000 after buying an additional 79 shares during the period. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 14.2% in the first quarter. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 4,102 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,009,000 after buying an additional 510 shares during the period. Finally, Eudaimonia Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 4.2% in the first quarter. Eudaimonia Partners LLC now owns 1,478 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $363,000 after buying an additional 59 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently commented on the company. TD Cowen lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $228.00 to $251.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Raymond James lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $240.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $237.00 to $243.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 9th. UBS Group lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $235.00 to $248.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Finally, Benchmark lifted their price objective on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $266.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 10th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $255.00.

Union Pacific Stock Up 5.0 %

UNP stock traded up $11.54 on Thursday, reaching $243.52. 3,897,475 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,334,341. The company has a market cap of $148.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.55 and a beta of 1.07. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $244.48 and a 200-day simple moving average of $234.62. Union Pacific has a one year low of $190.37 and a one year high of $258.66. 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 issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.71 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 return on equity of 46.87% and a net margin of 26.45%. Union Pacific's revenue was down .3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.67 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific will post 11.01 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 29th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 29th were paid a dividend of $1.30 per share. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.14%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 28th. Union Pacific's payout ratio is presently 49.71%.

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.