Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Price Target Raised to $270.00 at Barclays

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) had its target price increased by Barclays from $260.00 to $270.00 in a research report released on Thursday morning,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an overweight rating on the railroad operator's stock.

Several other equities research analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 27th. Sanford C. Bernstein restated an "outperform" rating and issued a $271.00 target price (up previously from $267.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday. Susquehanna upgraded Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "positive" rating and lifted their price target for the company from $245.00 to $260.00 in a research report on Tuesday, June 24th. Stephens dropped their price target on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Finally, Bank of America lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $256.63.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UNP traded down $1.99 during trading on Thursday, reaching $235.01. 3,211,722 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,739,891. Union Pacific has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $258.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91, a current ratio of 0.73 and a quick ratio of 0.61. The company has a 50-day moving average of $226.11 and a 200-day moving average of $231.14. The stock has a market capitalization of $140.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.73 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.11 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.80% and a net margin of 27.76%. Union Pacific's revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.69 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that Union Pacific will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th were issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 30th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.28%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is presently 48.29%.

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 UNP. Highline Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 103.5% during the 1st quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 116 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1,400.0% during the 1st quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 120 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 112 shares during the last quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 1st quarter valued at about $32,000. EnRich Financial Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. Finally, WPG Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 1st quarter valued at about $33,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

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.