Analysts Set Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) PT at $259.54

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) has been given a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” by the twenty-eight analysts that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, sixteen have assigned a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $260.1667.

UNP has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. UBS Group set a $253.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, October 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $263.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $277.00 to $275.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 24th. Barclays reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $285.00 price objective (up previously from $270.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $245.00 target price on Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, December 11th.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE:UNP opened at $235.84 on Friday. The business’s fifty day moving average is $226.53 and its 200 day moving average is $226.05. The firm has a market cap of $139.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.04, a PEG ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.75, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.75. Union Pacific has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $256.84.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.08 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.99 by $0.09. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 42.23% and a net margin of 28.73%.The business had revenue of $6.24 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.24 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.75 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that Union Pacific will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 5th will be issued a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 5th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is presently 46.90%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Union Pacific

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. grew its position in Union Pacific by 183.8% in the first quarter. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. now owns 10,238 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,419,000 after acquiring an additional 6,631 shares in the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 24.6% during the first quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 5,005 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,182,000 after purchasing an additional 988 shares during the last quarter. Ethic Inc. lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 9.3% during the first quarter. Ethic Inc. now owns 34,421 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $8,164,000 after purchasing an additional 2,936 shares during the last quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 2.7% in the 1st quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV now owns 3,854 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $911,000 after purchasing an additional 101 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Forvis Mazars Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 5.9% during the 1st quarter. Forvis Mazars Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 12,561 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,967,000 after purchasing an additional 695 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Union Pacific

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.