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

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) had its price objective boosted by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $267.00 to $270.00 in a research report released on Monday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have a neutral rating on the railroad operator’s stock.

A number of other analysts also recently weighed in on UNP. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $263.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Loop Capital raised shares of Union Pacific from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $214.00 to $227.00 in a research report on Tuesday, September 16th. Barclays restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $285.00 price objective (up previously from $270.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $280.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday, December 18th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating and twelve have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $259.58.

Union Pacific Stock Down 1.0%

Shares of NYSE:UNP opened at $226.89 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $134.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.28, a P/E/G ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.75, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.75. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $230.31 and a 200-day moving average price of $227.19. Union Pacific has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $256.84.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.08 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.99 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $6.24 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.24 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 42.23% and a net margin of 28.73%.The firm’s revenue was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.75 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 5th were paid a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 5th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 46.90%.

Institutional Trading of Union Pacific

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the second quarter valued at $1,856,340,000. Capital World Investors lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 193.3% during the 3rd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 10,481,043 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,477,404,000 after acquiring an additional 6,908,016 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 95.0% during the 3rd quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 8,713,196 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,059,538,000 after acquiring an additional 4,244,226 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 72.7% during the 3rd quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 9,177,002 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,169,168,000 after acquiring an additional 3,861,636 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 22,618.2% in the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,624,636 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $603,876,000 after acquiring an additional 2,613,083 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Company Profile

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services.

Union Pacific’s core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western two‑thirds of the United States.