Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Cut to Sell at Loop Capital

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) was downgraded by equities research analysts at Loop Capital from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report released on Monday, Marketbeat.com reports. They currently have a $200.00 price target on the railroad operator’s stock, down from their prior price target of $265.00. Loop Capital’s price objective suggests a potential downside of 17.85% from the company’s previous close.

Several other brokerages have also recently weighed in on UNP. Guggenheim upped their target price on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Barclays lifted their price objective on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Raymond James restated a “strong-buy” rating and issued a $285.00 price target (up previously from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Benchmark increased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $261.40.

Union Pacific Trading Up 0.2 %

Shares of UNP opened at $243.46 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $147.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.95, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.63. Union Pacific has a 1-year low of $218.55 and a 1-year high of $258.66. The company has a 50-day moving average of $235.29 and a 200 day moving average of $240.11.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.71 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Union Pacific will post 12.03 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total transaction of $1,636,740.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,632,388. The trade was a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $1,875,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at $16,240,000. This represents a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Union Pacific

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Compass Financial Services Inc acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the third quarter valued at $30,000. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. boosted its holdings in 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 purchasing an additional 93 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the third quarter valued at $32,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Company Profile

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.