Evercore ISI Cuts Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Price Target to $238.00

Key Points

• Evercore ISI has reduced the target price for Union Pacific's stock from $244.00 to $238.00, maintaining an "in-line" rating.
• Union Pacific's stock currently shows a potential upside of 6.27% based on the new target price compared to its current market price.
• The railroad operator posted an earnings per share (EPS) of $3.03 for the last quarter, exceeding analyst expectations of $2.84.
• Union Pacific has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" with a target price of $259.67, according to MarketBeat.com.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) had its price target decreased by Evercore ISI from $244.00 to $238.00 in a research report sent to investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. Evercore ISI currently has an in-line rating on the railroad operator's stock.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Argus upgraded Union Pacific to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th. UBS Group dropped their target price on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Raymond James Financial restated a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday, July 15th. Baird R W upgraded Union Pacific to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 1st. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $263.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Monday, June 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating, sixteen have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $259.46.

Union Pacific Trading Up 1.9%

UNP stock traded up $4.19 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $224.71. The stock had a trading volume of 8,254,381 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,405,370. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $227.17 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $231.03. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86. The firm has a market cap of $134.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.52, a PEG ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 1.05. Union Pacific has a twelve month low of $204.66 and a twelve month high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 24th. The railroad operator reported $3.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.19. The business had revenue of $6.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.09 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.73% and a net margin of 28.43%. Union Pacific's quarterly revenue was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.74 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Union Pacific will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be issued a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.46%. This is a boost from Union Pacific's previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 47.96%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Union Pacific

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 0.5% during the second quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 13,084 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $3,010,000 after buying an additional 59 shares during the period. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 10.6% during the second quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 93,337 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $21,475,000 after purchasing an additional 8,925 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 2.0% in the 2nd quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 63,710 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $14,658,000 after acquiring an additional 1,219 shares during the period. Vest Financial LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 39.3% in the 2nd quarter. Vest Financial LLC now owns 9,738 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,241,000 after acquiring an additional 2,746 shares during the period. Finally, St. Louis Trust Co increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 37.2% in the 2nd quarter. St. Louis Trust Co now owns 16,584 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $3,816,000 after acquiring an additional 4,500 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by 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.