Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Upgraded at Baird R W

Baird R W upgraded shares of Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) to a hold rating in a report released on Tuesday morning,Zacks.com reports.

A number of other analysts have also recently commented on UNP. UBS Group lowered their price target 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. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, March 7th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $295.00 price objective for the company. Robert W. Baird started coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday. They set a “neutral” rating and a $231.00 target price for the company. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. Finally, Susquehanna raised shares of Union Pacific from a “neutral” rating to a “positive” rating and raised their price target for the stock from $245.00 to $260.00 in a research report on Tuesday, June 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $256.91.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.3%

UNP stock opened at $236.45 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $141.27 billion, a PE ratio of 21.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 1.05. Union Pacific has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $258.07. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $223.53 and a 200 day moving average of $230.75.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.73 by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.11 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.80% and a net margin of 27.76%. The company’s quarterly revenue was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.69 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Union Pacific will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th were given a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 30th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.27%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.29%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Union Pacific

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Fiduciary Trust Co increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 2.8% during the fourth quarter. Fiduciary Trust Co now owns 102,213 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $23,309,000 after purchasing an additional 2,807 shares in the last quarter. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth about $781,000. Miramar Capital LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 3.1% during the 4th quarter. Miramar Capital LLC now owns 54,564 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $12,443,000 after buying an additional 1,648 shares in the last quarter. Meadow Creek Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 10.9% during the first quarter. Meadow Creek Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,666 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $866,000 after acquiring an additional 359 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 11.9% in the first quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 1,952 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $461,000 after acquiring an additional 207 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

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.