JPMorgan Chase & Co. Issues Positive Forecast for Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Stock Price

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) had its price target lifted by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $267.00 to $270.00 in a research note published on Monday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a neutral rating on the railroad operator’s stock.

Several other equities research analysts have also commented on UNP. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $280.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $263.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Citigroup set a $264.00 price target on Union Pacific and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets set a $255.00 price objective on Union Pacific in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and twelve have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $259.58.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.5%

Shares of NYSE:UNP opened at $229.55 on Monday. Union Pacific has a fifty-two week low of $204.66 and a fifty-two week high of $256.84. The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.75. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $229.96 and its 200-day simple moving average is $227.21. The company has a market cap of $136.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.50, a PEG ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 0.99.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.08 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.99 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $6.24 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.24 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 42.23% and a net margin of 28.73%.The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.75 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Union Pacific will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Investors of record on Friday, December 5th were paid a $1.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 5th. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 46.90%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Union Pacific

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter worth about $1,856,340,000. Capital World Investors boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 193.3% during the 3rd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 10,481,043 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,477,404,000 after purchasing an additional 6,908,016 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 95.0% during the third quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 8,713,196 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,059,538,000 after buying an additional 4,244,226 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 72.7% in the third 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 valued at $2,169,168,000 after buying an additional 3,861,636 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 22,618.2% in the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,624,636 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $603,876,000 after buying an additional 2,613,083 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Company Profile

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.