Jennifer Hamann Sells 2,000 Shares of Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Stock

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) CFO Jennifer Hamann sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.70, for a total value of $549,400.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 114,642 shares in the company, valued at $31,492,157.40. The trade was a 1.71% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link.

Union Pacific Stock Down 1.2%

UNP stock opened at $264.55 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53, a current ratio of 0.92 and a quick ratio of 0.73. The stock has a market capitalization of $157.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.79, a PEG ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 0.96. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $252.04 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $239.12. Union Pacific Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $210.53 and a fifty-two week high of $274.79.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.93 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.86 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $6.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.12 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 39.58% and a net margin of 29.20%.The company’s quarterly revenue was up 3.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $2.70 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.53 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th were given a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 27th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 45.47%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have weighed in on UNP. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $267.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $289.00 target price (up from $273.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. Barclays reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $315.00 target price (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. UBS Group reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $274.00 target price (up from $253.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. Finally, Citigroup reissued a “buy” rating and set a $307.00 target price (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $279.55.

Trending Headlines about Union Pacific

Here are the key news stories impacting Union Pacific this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 results beat and service momentum — Union Pacific posted an EPS beat and revenue slightly above expectations, with stronger margins and management reaffirming its outlook, supporting near?term earnings visibility. UPS or UNP: Which Transportation Stock Holds an Edge Post Q1 Earnings?
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst price-target upgrades — Several firms have lifted targets (examples cited: Citi to $307, Raymond James to $310, Barclays to $315), which tends to support buying interest and signals confidence in the company’s service improvements and upside. Is Union Pacific (UNP) the Best Harvard University Stock Pick?
• Neutral Sentiment: Brand/PR event — The Big Boy steam locomotive coast?to?coast tour is a positive PR event that raises visibility and community goodwill but has minimal direct impact on fundamentals. Union Pacific’s Big Boy to Tour the Northeast
• Negative Sentiment: Regulatory/merger risk — As UP and Norfolk Southern prepare to refile a merger application, a new anti?merger coalition of rival railroads has formed, increasing the likelihood of regulatory hurdles or political opposition that could derail expected merger value. Anti-merger group launches as UP, NS prepare to refile application
• Negative Sentiment: Insider selling — Several senior executives (including the CFO and an EVP) disclosed multi?million dollar stock sales in late April; while often routine, clustered executive sales can spook investors and pressure sentiment. Union Pacific insider transactions

Institutional Trading of Union Pacific

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Key Financial Inc boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 2.1% in the first quarter. Key Financial Inc now owns 1,821 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $442,000 after buying an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. EJMK Ventures LLC boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 4.0% in the first quarter. EJMK Ventures LLC now owns 1,016 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $247,000 after buying an additional 39 shares in the last quarter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 0.6% in the fourth quarter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group now owns 6,637 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,535,000 after buying an additional 42 shares in the last quarter. Fairvoy Private Wealth LLC boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 3.8% in the first quarter. Fairvoy Private Wealth LLC now owns 1,156 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $280,000 after buying an additional 42 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 2.0% in the first quarter. Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,096 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $508,000 after buying an additional 42 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Union Pacific

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services.

Union Pacific’s core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western two?thirds of the United States.