Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) Receives $267.48 Consensus Price Target from Brokerages

Shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) have earned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-three analysts that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $267.4762.

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “neutral” rating and set a $267.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 7th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a report on Tuesday. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and issued a $275.00 price target (up from $260.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 17th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets restated a “market perform” rating and issued a $295.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, February 19th.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In related news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 1,999 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $234.93, for a total value of $469,625.07. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Union Pacific

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Capital World Investors lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 92.1% in the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 20,136,349 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $4,658,142,000 after acquiring an additional 9,655,306 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,779,907,000. Capital Research Global Investors lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 95.0% in 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 in the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 72.7% in 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 in the last quarter. Finally, EdgePoint Investment Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $408,592,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.5%

Shares of NYSE:UNP opened at $249.93 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $148.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.88, a PEG ratio of 2.78 and a beta of 0.96. Union Pacific has a 1-year low of $206.63 and a 1-year high of $268.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a current ratio of 0.91. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $251.40 and a 200 day moving average price of $237.84.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.92 by ($0.06). The business had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.15 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.89% and a net margin of 29.12%.The company’s quarterly revenue was down .6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.91 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific will post 12.42 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 27th were given a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 27th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is 46.12%.

About Union Pacific

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.