Benchmark Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Stock

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) had its price target upped by equities research analysts at Benchmark from $266.00 to $275.00 in a report issued on Friday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has a “buy” rating on the railroad operator’s stock. Benchmark’s price target points to a potential upside of 9.99% from the stock’s previous close.

Several other equities analysts have also recently weighed in on UNP. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on Union Pacific from $263.00 to $252.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. Robert W. Baird raised their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday. Raymond James raised their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 10th. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 1st. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $261.62.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of Union Pacific stock traded up $1.97 during trading on Friday, hitting $250.02. 1,320,730 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,619,999. Union Pacific has a 1 year low of $218.55 and a 1 year high of $258.66. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $233.78 and a 200-day simple moving average of $239.22. The stock has a market capitalization of $151.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.94, a PEG ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.63.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.33% and a return on equity of 41.79%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.71 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that Union Pacific will post 10.96 EPS for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Union Pacific

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 2nd quarter valued at about $28,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 265.7% in the 3rd quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. now owns 128 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares during the period. Finally, Dunhill Financial LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 111.5% during the 3rd quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 129 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.