Union Pacific Corporation (UNP) – What Are Researchers Thinking About This Stock?

Shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) have received a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-one research firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $325.00.

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Susquehanna lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $345.00 to $333.00 and set a “positive” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $334.00 to $322.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 5th. Raymond James Financial set a $350.00 price objective on Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday. Weiss Ratings upgraded Union Pacific from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research report on Friday, October 9th. Finally, Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $311.00 to $344.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, July 27th.

Trending Headlines about Union Pacific

Here are the key news stories impacting Union Pacific this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts expect Union Pacific to deliver earnings growth and potentially exceed estimates this season. Zacks cites favorable earnings-surprise indicators for UNP, which could support the stock if confirmed by the company’s October 22 results. 4 Transportation Stocks Likely to Deliver an Earnings Beat This Season
• Positive Sentiment: Recent coverage highlights UNP’s extensive rail network and economic moat, which support pricing power, durable cash generation and its dividend. The stock has also posted strong longer-term gains, reflecting investor confidence in the railroad’s business quality. 3 Dividend Stocks With Economic Moats
• Neutral Sentiment: Union Pacific will release third-quarter results on October 22 before the market opens, followed by a management conference call. The event is a near-term catalyst, with investors likely seeking updates on freight demand, operating performance, cash flow and the Norfolk Southern deal. Union Pacific Announces Third Quarter 2026 Earnings Release Date
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation commentary is mixed. UNP has delivered strong recent and multiyear returns and is trading near estimates of fair value, while investors are assessing whether expected future cash flows justify the current valuation and the risks associated with the proposed Norfolk Southern transaction. Union Pacific Stock Trades Near Fair Value After Cash Flow Review
• Negative Sentiment: Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Hamann plans to retire in early 2027. Although the transition is not immediate, the announcement introduces leadership uncertainty and is the main reason for near-term pressure on UNP shares. The company has announced a search for her successor. Union Pacific CFO Jennifer Hamann to Retire

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Union Pacific

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 4.9% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 27,890,598 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $7,586,243,000 after purchasing an additional 1,302,732 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE increased its position in Union Pacific by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 14,527,563 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $3,951,497,000 after purchasing an additional 64,492 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 5.1% during the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 6,885,560 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,592,768,000 after buying an additional 334,435 shares during the period. Legal & General Group Plc bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 2nd quarter worth $1,193,135,000. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 0.5% during the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 4,617,313 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,120,251,000 after buying an additional 23,698 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP traded up $0.27 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $288.98. The stock had a trading volume of 2,657,650 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,569,502. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.99. The stock has a market capitalization of $171.67 billion, a PE ratio of 23.40, a PEG ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 0.95. Union Pacific has a 12 month low of $215.53 and a 12 month high of $315.99. The company’s 50-day moving average is $287.73 and its two-hundred day moving average is $276.60.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.26 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 38.46% and a net margin of 28.85%. The firm had revenue of $6.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.72 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $3.03 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 11.5% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts expect that Union Pacific will post 13.05 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 31st were paid a dividend of $1.42 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 31st. This represents a $5.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. This is a boost from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is 45.99%.

About Union Pacific

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is a freight railroad company that operates one of the largest rail networks in North America. Through its principal subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, the company provides transportation services for businesses across the western two-thirds of the United States.

Union Pacific transports a broad range of commodities and manufactured goods, including agricultural products, automotive vehicles and parts, chemicals, coal, industrial products, forest products, and intermodal containers.