Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Price Target Cut to $230.00 by Analysts at Jefferies Financial Group

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) had its target price decreased by Jefferies Financial Group from $255.00 to $230.00 in a report published on Wednesday morning,Benzinga reports. Jefferies Financial Group currently has a hold rating on the railroad operator’s stock.

A number of other equities research analysts have also recently commented on the stock. Robert W. Baird raised their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Raymond James restated a “strong-buy” rating and set a $285.00 price objective (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target 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. Susquehanna lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $255.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Finally, UBS Group cut their target price on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. 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 given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $260.32.

Union Pacific Stock Down 1.5 %

Shares of NYSE UNP traded down $3.34 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $220.19. The stock had a trading volume of 3,084,329 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,506,058. Union Pacific has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $258.07. The company has a market cap of $131.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.85, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The business’s 50 day moving average is $238.46 and its 200-day moving average is $237.67. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.71 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Union Pacific will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.43%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 48.33%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, January 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total value of $1,636,740.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,632,388. This trade represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $1,875,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the president now owns 64,960 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This trade represents a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Union Pacific

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of UNP. Compass Financial Services Inc purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. EnRich Financial Partners LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth $31,000. PrairieView Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at about $34,000. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 38.8% in the fourth quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.