Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Price Target Raised to $260.00

Key Points

• Wells Fargo & Company raised Union Pacific's price target from $250.00 to $260.00, indicating a potential upside of 16.09% from the previous close.
• Union Pacific has received multiple ratings updates, including upgrades from Susquehanna and Redburn Atlantic, with an average rating of "Moderate Buy" among analysts.
• In its latest earnings report, Union Pacific exceeded expectations with $3.03 earnings per share and a revenue of $6.15 billion, marking a 2.4% increase year-over-year.
• Institutional investors own 80.38% of Union Pacific's stock, highlighting strong backing from major financial players.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) had its target price boosted by Wells Fargo & Company from $250.00 to $260.00 in a research report report published on Friday morning,Benzinga reports. Wells Fargo & Company currently has an overweight rating on the railroad operator's stock.

Several other research firms have also recently issued reports on UNP. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $263.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Monday, June 2nd. Stephens decreased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Redburn Atlantic raised shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Raymond James Financial reissued a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Finally, Robert W. Baird started coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $231.00 target price on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, sixteen have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $259.46.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNP traded up $4.19 during trading on Friday, reaching $224.71. 8,254,381 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,405,370. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86. Union Pacific has a fifty-two week low of $204.66 and a fifty-two week high of $258.07. The firm has a market cap of $134.26 billion, a PE ratio of 19.52, a P/E/G ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $227.17 and a 200-day simple moving average of $231.03.

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

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

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

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Union Pacific

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Highline Wealth Partners LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 103.5% during the first quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 116 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1,400.0% in the first quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 120 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares during the last quarter. EnRich Financial Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the first quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, WPG Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the first quarter worth approximately $33,000. 80.38% of the stock is 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.