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

Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) has been given an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the twenty brokerages that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, eleven have given a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $259.80.

Several analysts have recently commented on UNP shares. Citigroup lifted their price target 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. Bank of America decreased their price target on Union Pacific from $273.00 to $270.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, September 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $263.00 to $252.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $255.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets cut their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $280.00 to $275.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, September 20th.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.1 %

Shares of UNP opened at $229.93 on Friday. Union Pacific has a 52-week low of $218.55 and a 52-week high of $258.66. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $235.69 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $238.35. The company has a market capitalization of $139.40 billion, a PE ratio of 21.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) 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 analyst estimates of $6.14 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.79% and a net margin of 27.33%. Union Pacific’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.51 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Union Pacific will post 10.94 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

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

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the second quarter worth about $28,000. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 3,250.0% in the 2nd quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. now owns 134 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares during the period. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the third quarter worth approximately $30,000. Fairscale Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 265.7% in the third 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 period. 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.