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

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

UNP has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Evercore ISI lowered Union Pacific from an “outperform” rating to an “inline” rating and cut their price target for the stock from $254.00 to $247.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 25th. Barclays lifted their target price on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $267.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $262.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $263.00 to $252.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Union Pacific stock opened at $236.97 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $239.81 and its 200 day simple moving average is $238.36. Union Pacific has a 12 month low of $218.55 and a 12 month high of $258.66. The company has a market cap of $143.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.76, a PEG ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 1.05.

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

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 9th will be paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 9th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.26%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 49.22%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Union Pacific

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Cultivar Capital Inc. bought a new stake in Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter valued at $30,000. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. grew 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 worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 93 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fairscale Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at about $31,000. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

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.