Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Cut to Hold at Robert W. Baird

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) was downgraded by equities research analysts at Robert W. Baird from an “outperform” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note issued on Thursday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. They currently have a $310.00 target price on the railroad operator’s stock. Robert W. Baird‘s price objective would suggest a potential upside of 6.71% from the stock’s previous close.

Several other analysts also recently issued reports on UNP. Bank of America increased their price target on Union Pacific from $301.00 to $334.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Sanford C. Bernstein raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $346.00 to $347.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 20th. Susquehanna boosted their price objective on Union Pacific from $333.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 27th. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $335.00 target price (up from $315.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Finally, Rothschild & Co Redburn increased their target price on Union Pacific from $313.00 to $323.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have assigned a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $325.09.

Union Pacific Price Performance

UNP opened at $290.50 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32. Union Pacific has a 52-week low of $218.20 and a 52-week high of $315.99. The company has a 50 day moving average of $286.72 and a two-hundred day moving average of $271.90. The company has a market cap of $172.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.64, a P/E/G ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 0.84.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 22nd. The railroad operator reported $3.53 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.47 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $7.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.16 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.90% and a return on equity of 37.54%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 15.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $3.08 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect that Union Pacific will post 13.13 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Union Pacific

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Capital Advisors Inc. OK raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.8% in the second quarter. Capital Advisors Inc. OK now owns 1,888 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $513,000 after buying an additional 34 shares during the last quarter. Tiemann Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.7% in the second quarter. Tiemann Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,117 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $576,000 after buying an additional 35 shares in the last quarter. Burford Brothers Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.9% during the second quarter. Burford Brothers Inc. now owns 1,877 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $511,000 after buying an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. Nabity Jensen Investment Management Inc grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.3% during the third quarter. Nabity Jensen Investment Management Inc now owns 2,754 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $749,000 after buying an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mountain Pacific Investment Advisers LLC grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 3.0% during the third quarter. Mountain Pacific Investment Advisers LLC now owns 1,218 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $331,000 after buying an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Union Pacific

Union Pacific Corporation operates one of the largest freight rail networks in the United States through its subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad. Its network serves 23 states across the western two-thirds of the country and connects with other railroads, ports and border crossings, including routes to Mexico and Canada.

The company transports a broad range of goods, including agricultural products, industrial materials, coal and energy products, and consumer merchandise. Its services support industries such as manufacturing, construction, agriculture, automotive and retail, with intermodal transportation combining rail with truck and shipping services.

Union Pacific traces its history to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and played a central role in building the first transcontinental railroad, completed in 1869.