Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Rating Increased to Hold at Baird R W

Baird R W upgraded shares of Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) to a hold rating in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday morning,Zacks.com reports.

Several other analysts also recently weighed in on the company. UBS Group decreased their price objective on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, March 7th. They set a "buy" rating and a $295.00 price objective for the company. Bank of America boosted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. Citigroup raised shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and decreased their price target for the company from $260.00 to $244.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, Raymond James Financial reaffirmed a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $256.91.

Union Pacific Trading Up 0.3%

UNP traded up $0.61 on Tuesday, reaching $237.77. 467,370 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,710,203. The company has a market cap of $142.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91. Union Pacific has a one year low of $204.66 and a one year high of $258.07. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $223.12 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $230.72.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.73 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.76% and a return on equity of 40.80%. The firm had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.11 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.69 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Union Pacific will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 30th were given a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.25%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is currently 48.29%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Union Pacific

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Highline Wealth Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 103.5% in the first quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 116 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 59 shares during the period. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings 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 purchasing an additional 112 shares in the last quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 1st quarter valued at $32,000. EnRich Financial Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, WPG Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the first quarter worth $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.