Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Receives “Buy” Rating from Benchmark

Benchmark restated their buy rating on shares of Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) in a research note issued to investors on Friday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a $266.00 target price on the railroad operator’s stock.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Bank of America dropped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $273.00 to $270.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, September 24th. Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $260.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday. Citigroup started coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $264.00 price objective on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $255.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday. Finally, BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $280.00 to $275.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, September 20th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $259.15.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.2 %

UNP traded down $0.45 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $230.30. 2,952,224 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,281,261. Union Pacific has a 12-month low of $199.97 and a 12-month high of $258.66. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $246.02 and a 200 day moving average of $238.48. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.89. The firm has a market cap of $140.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.76 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.14 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 42.62% and a net margin of 26.90%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.51 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Union Pacific will post 11.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,552 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $246.59, for a total transaction of $875,887.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now directly owns 64,945 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $16,014,787.55. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Union Pacific

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Financial Advocates Investment Management grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 0.8% during the third quarter. Financial Advocates Investment Management now owns 14,453 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $3,562,000 after acquiring an additional 110 shares during the period. Cornerstone Wealth Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter. Cornerstone Wealth Group LLC now owns 2,687 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $662,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares in the last quarter. TNF LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter worth $275,000. Oak Harvest Investment Services lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 11.5% in the third quarter. Oak Harvest Investment Services now owns 50,932 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $12,554,000 after purchasing an additional 5,257 shares during the period. Finally, JFS Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 6.2% during the third quarter. JFS Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,391 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $343,000 after buying an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.