Traders Buy High Volume of Union Pacific Call Options (NYSE:UNP)

Key Points

• Union Pacific Corporation experienced a significant increase in options trading activity, with traders purchasing 14,516 call options—an increase of 155% compared to the average volume.
• Analyst ratings for Union Pacific are mixed, with one strong buy, sixteen buy, and eleven hold ratings, while target prices vary from $231.00 to $286.00.
• The company's stock price declined by 1.2% on Friday, trading at $217.36, as it continues to see institutional investment with a notable increase in positions by various firms.

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) saw unusually large options trading activity on Friday. Stock investors bought 14,516 call options on the stock. This is an increase of 155% compared to the average volume of 5,684 call options.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently weighed in on UNP shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $267.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday. Evercore ISI dropped their price target on Union Pacific from $244.00 to $238.00 and set an "in-line" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Robert W. Baird initiated coverage on Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $231.00 price target for the company. Loop Capital upgraded Union Pacific from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating and upped their price target for the stock from $214.00 to $227.00 in a research note on Tuesday, September 16th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein increased their target price on Union Pacific from $271.00 to $286.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, July 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have issued a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $261.67.

Union Pacific Stock Down 1.2%

Union Pacific stock traded down $2.69 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $217.36. The stock had a trading volume of 1,124,090 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,557,207. The business's 50 day moving average price is $225.03 and its 200-day moving average price is $224.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.53. Union Pacific has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $256.84. The company has a market cap of $128.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.91, a PEG ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 1.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.08 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.99 by $0.09. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.73% and a net margin of 28.43%.The firm had revenue of $6.24 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.24 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.75 earnings per share. The company's revenue was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Union Pacific will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Union Pacific

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1,400.0% during the first quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 120 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares in the last quarter. Howard Hughes Medical Institute purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter worth $30,000. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter worth $31,000. Total Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter worth $31,000. Finally, Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the 1st quarter worth about $32,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.

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