Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) Given Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) has received a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-two research firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $320.8947.

UNP has been the topic of several research reports. Weiss Ratings upgraded Union Pacific from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Citizens Jmp initiated coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $350.00 price target for the company. Barclays reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $350.00 price target (up from $315.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, July 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $304.00 to $334.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $335.00 target price (up from $315.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, July 24th.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In related news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total transaction of $789,504.36. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 43,012 shares in the company, valued at $11,353,447.52. This represents a 6.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.22% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Union Pacific

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Capital World Investors increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 92.1% in the fourth quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 20,136,349 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $4,658,142,000 after buying an additional 9,655,306 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth $1,779,907,000. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC grew its holdings 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 worth $2,169,168,000 after acquiring an additional 3,861,636 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 26.0% during the fourth quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,980,904 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,540,105,000 after purchasing an additional 2,267,708 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 16.8% during the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 14,463,071 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $3,509,030,000 after purchasing an additional 2,084,808 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.1%

NYSE UNP opened at $291.83 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $173.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.99 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.82. Union Pacific has a 12 month low of $210.84 and a 12 month high of $315.99. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $277.60 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $260.77.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.26 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $6.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.72 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.85% and a return on equity of 38.46%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $3.03 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Union Pacific will post 12.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 31st will be issued a $1.42 dividend. This is a boost from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 31st. This represents a $5.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.9%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 44.70%.

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.