Stifel Nicolaus Cuts Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Price Target to $248.00

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) had its price target decreased by Stifel Nicolaus from $270.00 to $248.00 in a report issued on Monday,Benzinga reports. Stifel Nicolaus currently has a buy rating on the railroad operator’s stock.

Other analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Susquehanna decreased their target price on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $255.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Benchmark upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, March 7th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $295.00 price objective on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, fourteen 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 currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $257.50.

Union Pacific Trading Down 1.5 %

UNP opened at $216.68 on Monday. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $236.05 and its 200-day simple moving average is $236.83. The company has a market cap of $129.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.54, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific has a one year low of $204.66 and a one year high of $258.07. 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 for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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 quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.71 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Union Pacific will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th were given a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.47%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.33%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In other news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $1,875,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total value of $1,636,740.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This trade represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.19% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Union Pacific

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Compass Financial Services Inc acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. EnRich Financial Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at about $31,000. PrairieView Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at about $34,000. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL lifted its position in Union Pacific by 38.8% during the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

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.