The Goldman Sachs Group Reiterates "Neutral" Rating for Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP)

The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated their neutral rating on shares of Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) in a report issued on Monday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The firm currently has a $263.00 price objective on the railroad operator's stock.

UNP has been the topic of several other research reports. Susquehanna cut their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Citigroup upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $260.00 to $244.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Barclays lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $285.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 25th. Raymond James reissued a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $257.74.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.2%

Union Pacific stock traded down $0.34 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $220.53. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,022,389 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,667,310. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62. Union Pacific has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $258.07. The firm's 50 day moving average is $220.85 and its 200 day moving average is $232.39. The company has a market cap of $131.76 billion, a PE ratio of 19.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly 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). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. The company had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.11 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.69 earnings per share. The company's revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that Union Pacific will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be paid a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.43%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 48.29%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Union Pacific

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of UNP. Compass Financial Services Inc bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Highline Wealth Partners LLC boosted 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 last quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in 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 worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares during the last quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the first quarter worth $32,000. Finally, EnRich Financial Partners LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $31,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

About Union Pacific

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.