Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Earns Buy Rating from Benchmark

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP)‘s stock had its “buy” rating reiterated by stock analysts at Benchmark in a research report issued on Friday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $266.00 price objective on the railroad operator’s stock. Benchmark’s target price indicates a potential upside of 15.50% from the stock’s current price.

Several other research analysts also recently weighed in on the stock. Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $264.00 price objective on the stock. Raymond James raised their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, October 14th. Evercore ISI downgraded Union Pacific from an “outperform” rating to an “inline” rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $254.00 to $247.00 in a research note on Wednesday, September 25th. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their target price on Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $255.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Nine 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 to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $259.15.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP opened at $230.30 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $246.02 and a 200-day moving average of $238.46. Union Pacific has a one year low of $199.97 and a one year high of $258.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.89, a current ratio of 1.05 and a quick ratio of 0.86. The company has a market cap of $140.30 billion, a PE ratio of 21.62, a P/E/G ratio of 2.23 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 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.76 by ($0.01). Union Pacific had a net margin of 26.90% and a return on equity of 42.62%. The firm had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.14 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.51 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts predict that Union Pacific will post 11.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,552 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $246.59, for a total transaction of $875,887.68. Following the transaction, the president now owns 64,945 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $16,014,787.55. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Union Pacific

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 55.2% in the first quarter. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC now owns 3,366 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $828,000 after purchasing an additional 1,197 shares in the last quarter. Chemung Canal Trust Co. increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 32.7% during the first quarter. Chemung Canal Trust Co. now owns 35,110 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $8,635,000 after buying an additional 8,661 shares during the period. Vicus Capital lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 175.5% in the first quarter. Vicus Capital now owns 2,466 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $607,000 after buying an additional 1,571 shares in the last quarter. Symphony Financial Ltd. Co. boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 4.6% in the first quarter. Symphony Financial Ltd. Co. now owns 1,581 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $389,000 after acquiring an additional 69 shares during the period. Finally, Founders Financial Securities LLC grew its stake in Union Pacific by 6.7% during the first quarter. Founders Financial Securities LLC now owns 8,306 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,043,000 after acquiring an additional 520 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently 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.