Barclays Trims Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Target Price to $280.00

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) had its target price cut by Barclays from $290.00 to $280.00 in a report released on Friday, Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the railroad operator’s stock.

Several other equities analysts have also recently commented on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Monday, April 8th. They set a hold rating and a $250.00 target price for the company. TD Cowen upped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $252.00 to $258.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, April 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $237.00 to $243.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $248.00 to $274.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, April 11th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $198.00 to $210.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, April 26th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have given 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 an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $258.79.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP opened at $240.36 on Friday. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $229.90 and its 200 day moving average price is $239.00. Union Pacific has a 52 week low of $199.33 and a 52 week high of $258.66. The company has a market capitalization of $146.65 billion, a PE ratio of 22.94, a PEG ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.89, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.71 by $0.03. Union Pacific had a net margin of 26.90% and a return on equity of 42.62%. The firm had revenue of $6.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.05 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.57 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up .7% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that Union Pacific will post 11.11 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 30th will be paid a $1.34 dividend. This is a positive change from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.23%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 30th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is currently 49.62%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Union Pacific

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $1,832,127,000. Capital Research Global Investors raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 7.6% during the first quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 7,370,752 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,812,689,000 after purchasing an additional 518,985 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 2.2% during the fourth quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 5,867,842 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,441,260,000 after purchasing an additional 125,522 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 7.1% during the fourth quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 5,504,181 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,351,937,000 after purchasing an additional 364,029 shares during the period. Finally, Clearbridge Investments LLC raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 5.7% during the first quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 4,396,974 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,081,348,000 after purchasing an additional 237,083 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.