The Goldman Sachs Group Increases Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Price Target to $274.00

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) had its price target hoisted by The Goldman Sachs Group from $248.00 to $274.00 in a research report released on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The Goldman Sachs Group currently has a buy rating on the railroad operator’s stock.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $237.00 to $243.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, April 9th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $282.00 to $272.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 26th. TD Cowen lifted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $228.00 to $251.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, January 26th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $275.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, January 26th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $235.00 to $248.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $253.48.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.7 %

UNP stock opened at $234.40 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.11. Union Pacific has a twelve month low of $190.37 and a twelve month high of $258.66. The company’s 50 day moving average is $247.04 and its two-hundred day moving average is $233.18. The stock has a market cap of $143.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.41, a PEG ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 1.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.71 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.56 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a net margin of 26.45% and a return on equity of 46.87%. The company had revenue of $6.16 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.05 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.67 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down .3% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts expect that Union Pacific will post 11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 29th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 29th were given a $1.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 28th. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.22%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 49.71%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,750 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $937,500.00. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 56,682 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,170,500. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Union Pacific

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. New England Professional Planning Group Inc. raised its stake in Union Pacific by 84.6% in the 1st quarter. New England Professional Planning Group Inc. now owns 4,367 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,074,000 after purchasing an additional 2,001 shares during the last quarter. Von Berge Wealth Management Group LLC raised its stake in Union Pacific by 3.9% in the 1st quarter. Von Berge Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 1,276 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $314,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. Mechanics Bank Trust Department raised its stake in Union Pacific by 22.6% in the 1st quarter. Mechanics Bank Trust Department now owns 8,391 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,064,000 after purchasing an additional 1,547 shares during the last quarter. Riverview Trust Co raised its stake in Union Pacific by 13.9% in the 1st quarter. Riverview Trust Co now owns 1,049 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $258,000 after purchasing an additional 128 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Annex Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in Union Pacific by 7.4% in the 1st quarter. Annex Advisory Services LLC now owns 61,851 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $15,211,000 after purchasing an additional 4,254 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.