Citigroup Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Stock

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) had its price objective lifted by equities researchers at Citigroup from $244.00 to $270.00 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a "buy" rating on the railroad operator's stock. Citigroup's target price indicates a potential upside of 15.09% from the company's previous close.

Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Robert W. Baird began coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, July 1st. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $231.00 price objective for the company. Susquehanna raised Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "positive" rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $245.00 to $260.00 in a report on Tuesday, June 24th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased 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. Redburn Atlantic raised Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 price objective for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on Union Pacific from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Monday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $256.63.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of Union Pacific stock traded down $2.41 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $234.59. 1,176,786 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,727,137. Union Pacific has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $258.07. The stock has a market capitalization of $140.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.14, a PEG ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $225.77 and a 200-day simple moving average of $231.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91, a current ratio of 0.73 and a quick ratio of 0.61.

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 (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.73 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.76% and a return on equity of 40.80%. The business had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.11 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.69 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Union Pacific

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Highline Wealth Partners LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific by 103.5% in the 1st quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 116 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific by 1,400.0% in the 1st quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 120 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 112 shares during the last quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. EnRich Financial Partners LLC bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, WPG Advisers LLC bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the first quarter valued at approximately $33,000. 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.