Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) Receives Average Rating of "Moderate Buy" from Brokerages

Key Points

• Analysts give Union Pacific a consensus "Moderate Buy" rating from 24 firms (15 buys, 8 holds, 1 strong buy) with an average 12‑month price target of about $264.86.
• The company missed its most recent quarter (EPS $2.86 vs. $2.92 expected; revenue $6.09B vs. $6.15B), with revenue down 0.6% year‑over‑year and analysts forecasting full‑year EPS of about 11.99.
• Union Pacific announced a quarterly dividend of $1.38 ($5.52 annualized, ~2.3% yield) payable March 31 with an ex‑dividend/record date of Feb. 27, and institutional investors own roughly 80.4% of the stock.

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) has received a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from the twenty-four research firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, fifteen have assigned a buy recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $264.8636.

A number of analysts recently commented on UNP shares. Weiss Ratings raised Union Pacific from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $280.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, December 18th. Robert W. Baird set a $311.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, March 6th. Susquehanna reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Monday, January 19th. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $270.00 price target (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th.

Union Pacific Trading Up 1.5%

UNP opened at $238.44 on Tuesday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $247.48 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $234.55. The firm has a market capitalization of $141.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.92, a PEG ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 0.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.75. Union Pacific has a one year low of $204.66 and a one year high of $268.14.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.92 by ($0.06). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.89% and a net margin of 29.12%.The business had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.15 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.91 earnings per share. Union Pacific's quarterly revenue was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that Union Pacific will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be given a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. Union Pacific's payout ratio is presently 46.12%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. grew its stake in Union Pacific by 29.8% in the fourth quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 565,523 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $130,817,000 after purchasing an additional 129,761 shares during the period. World Investment Advisors raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.1% in the fourth quarter. World Investment Advisors now owns 39,006 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $9,023,000 after purchasing an additional 424 shares in the last quarter. Farmers National Bank lifted its position in Union Pacific by 5.3% during the fourth quarter. Farmers National Bank now owns 3,800 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $879,000 after buying an additional 192 shares during the period. Winthrop Partners WNY LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at $2,097,000. Finally, Nalls Sherbakoff Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at $60,000. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Company Profile

Union Pacific Corporation NYSE: UNP is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services.

Union Pacific's core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western two‑thirds of the United States.

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