Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) has earned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty analysts that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $259.80.

A number of analysts recently commented on the stock. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $267.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th. Susquehanna dropped their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. TD Cowen reduced their price target on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $252.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Sanford C. Bernstein dropped their price objective on Union Pacific from $277.00 to $272.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus cut their target price on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $262.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the second quarter worth approximately $28,000. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 3,250.0% in the second quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. now owns 134 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 130 shares in the last quarter. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the third quarter worth about $30,000. Fairscale Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter valued at about $31,000. Finally, Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 265.7% in the 3rd quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. now owns 128 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 93 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.1 %

UNP opened at $229.93 on Friday. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $235.69 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $238.35. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79. Union Pacific has a twelve month low of $218.55 and a twelve month high of $258.66. The stock has a market cap of $139.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.11, a PEG ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.78 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.33% and a return on equity of 41.79%. The firm had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.14 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.51 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that Union Pacific will post 10.94 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 9th will be given a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.33%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 9th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 49.22%.

Union Pacific Company Profile

Union Pacific Corporation, through its subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad Company, operates in the railroad business in the United States. The company offers transportation services for grain and grain products, fertilizers, food and refrigerated products, and coal and renewables to grain processors, animal feeders, ethanol producers, renewable biofuel producers, and other agricultural users; and construction products, industrial chemicals, plastics, forest products, specialized products, metals and ores, petroleum, liquid petroleum gases, soda ash, and sand, as well as finished automobiles, automotive parts, and merchandise in intermodal containers.