Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Sets New 1-Year High Following Analyst Upgrade

Shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday after Raymond James Financial raised their price target on the stock from $310.00 to $363.00. Raymond James Financial currently has a strong-buy rating on the stock. Union Pacific traded as high as $290.41 and last traded at $289.2620, with a volume of 2276591 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $286.96.

Other research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Benchmark raised their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $300.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, April 24th. Evercore reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $294.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, June 25th. BMO Capital Markets restated a “market perform” rating and issued a $285.00 price target (up from $278.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. Barclays restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $315.00 price target (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $326.00 price target (up from $307.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Thursday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $293.33.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Kenyatta G. Rocker sold 27,387 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction on Friday, April 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $271.76, for a total transaction of $7,442,691.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 61,102 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $16,605,079.52. This trade represents a 30.95% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 2,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, April 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $274.70, for a total transaction of $549,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 114,642 shares in the company, valued at approximately $31,492,157.40. The trade was a 1.71% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last three months, insiders have sold 32,378 shares of company stock valued at $8,781,595. 0.22% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Rachor Investment Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. Tucker Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. SWAN Capital LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 2,575.0% during the 4th quarter. SWAN Capital LLC now owns 107 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. High Point Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Finally, Saranac Partners Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Trading Up 0.8%

The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $269.62 and its 200 day moving average price is $254.46. The company has a market cap of $171.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.83, a P/E/G ratio of 3.02 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a current ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.86 by $0.07. Union Pacific had a net margin of 29.20% and a return on equity of 39.58%. The company had revenue of $6.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.12 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.70 EPS. Union Pacific’s quarterly revenue was up 3.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.56 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 29th were paid a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 29th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 45.47%.

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.