Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Shares Gap Up on Earnings Beat

Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) gapped up before the market opened on Thursday following a better than expected earnings announcement. The stock had previously closed at $235.80, but opened at $246.65. Union Pacific shares last traded at $247.11, with a volume of 962,652 shares traded.

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 27.33% and a return on equity of 41.79%. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.71 EPS.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Investors of record on Monday, December 9th were issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.17%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 9th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 49.22%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have commented on UNP. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on Union Pacific from $263.00 to $252.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. TD Cowen cut their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $252.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th. 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. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on Union Pacific from $262.00 to $253.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 16th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $277.00 to $272.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $259.35.

Institutional Trading of Union Pacific

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Field & Main Bank lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. Field & Main Bank now owns 7,234 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,650,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares during the period. Hantz Financial Services Inc. lifted its position in Union Pacific by 10.3% during the 4th quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 69,343 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $15,813,000 after acquiring an additional 6,452 shares during the period. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 53.9% during the 4th quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 839,672 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $191,479,000 after acquiring an additional 294,230 shares during the period. R Squared Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at about $43,000. Finally, BetterWealth LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $541,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Trading Up 4.7 %

The company has a 50 day moving average price of $233.54 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $239.16. The firm has a market capitalization of $149.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.70, a P/E/G ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 0.77.

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.