Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Posts Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.01 EPS

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP – Get Rating) released its earnings results on Thursday. The railroad operator reported $2.57 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.56 by $0.01, MarketWatch Earnings reports. The company had revenue of $5.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.76 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 29.92% and a return on equity of 44.50%. The firm’s revenue was up 17.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $2.00 EPS.

Shares of UNP traded down $5.73 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $238.67. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 30,132 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,690,441. The company has a current ratio of 0.62, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.95. The company’s 50-day moving average is $254.84 and its 200-day moving average is $245.57. Union Pacific has a 52-week low of $195.68 and a 52-week high of $278.94. The firm has a market capitalization of $149.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.56, a PEG ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 1.18.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 31st. Investors of record on Monday, February 28th were paid a $1.18 dividend. This represents a $4.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.98%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 25th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 47.44%.

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Center for Financial Planning Inc. grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. Center for Financial Planning Inc. now owns 5,351 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,049,000 after buying an additional 143 shares during the last quarter. Zacks Investment Management grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 14.6% in the fourth quarter. Zacks Investment Management now owns 1,854 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $467,000 after purchasing an additional 236 shares during the last quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 2.4% during the 4th quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 10,505 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,646,000 after purchasing an additional 250 shares during the last quarter. Tobam boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 54.7% in the 4th quarter. Tobam now owns 984 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $248,000 after purchasing an additional 348 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Penserra Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Union Pacific by 20.8% during the 4th quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 2,918 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $735,000 after buying an additional 503 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.85% of the company’s stock.

Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. Royal Bank of Canada downgraded Union Pacific from an “outperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating and decreased their target price for the company from $271.00 to $258.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 17th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $260.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 24th. Bank of America cut shares of Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $258.00 target price for the company. in a research note on Friday, April 8th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday, March 31st. They issued a “buy” rating on the stock. Finally, Susquehanna raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $306.00 to $310.00 and gave the company a “positive” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 7th. Eight investment 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. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $266.43.

Union Pacific announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase program on Thursday, February 3rd that allows the company to repurchase 100,000,000 shares. This repurchase authorization allows the railroad operator to buy shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are often a sign that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

Union Pacific Company Profile (Get Rating)

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, and other agricultural users; petroleum, and liquid petroleum gases; and construction products, industrial chemicals, plastics, forest products, specialized products, metals and ores, soda ash, and sand, as well as finished automobiles, automotive parts, and merchandise in intermodal containers.

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