Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Reaches New 1-Year Low – Here’s Why

Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) shares hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $218.50 and last traded at $220.65, with a volume of 5517 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $223.97.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UNP has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. TD Cowen increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Raymond James reaffirmed a “strong-buy” rating and set a $285.00 price objective (up previously from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, January 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, March 7th. They set a “buy” rating and a $295.00 price target on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Finally, Robert W. Baird upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $261.95.

Union Pacific Trading Down 2.8 %

The business has a fifty day moving average price of $242.74 and a 200 day moving average price of $239.13. The company has a market capitalization of $130.51 billion, a PE ratio of 19.74, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.77.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping 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 period last year, the company earned $2.71 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.46%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total transaction of $1,636,740.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This trade represents a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 transaction, the president now owns 64,960 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $16,240,000. This represents a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Union Pacific

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Versant Capital Management Inc boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 70.8% in the 1st quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 4,243 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,002,000 after purchasing an additional 1,759 shares during the period. Insight Wealth Strategies LLC boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. Insight Wealth Strategies LLC now owns 9,994 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,361,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares during the period. Lederer & Associates Investment Counsel CA raised its stake in Union Pacific by 5.2% during the 1st quarter. Lederer & Associates Investment Counsel CA now owns 7,864 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,858,000 after purchasing an additional 390 shares during the period. Marcum Wealth LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 9.9% in the first quarter. Marcum Wealth LLC now owns 2,954 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $698,000 after purchasing an additional 265 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cullen Investment Group LTD. boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 3.5% in the first quarter. Cullen Investment Group LTD. now owns 49,801 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $11,765,000 after buying an additional 1,698 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by 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.