Investors Buy Large Volume of Union Pacific Call Options (NYSE:UNP)

Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) was the target of some unusual options trading activity on Thursday. Traders purchased 6,303 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of 57% compared to the average daily volume of 4,022 call options.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on UNP shares. Robert W. Baird cut their target price on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $260.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $262.00 to $253.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 16th. Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $266.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Raymond James increased their price objective on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 10th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $267.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $259.35.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. World Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in Union Pacific by 103.1% during the third quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC now owns 35,581 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $8,770,000 after acquiring an additional 18,060 shares in the last quarter. Shellback Capital LP increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 28.2% in the second quarter. Shellback Capital LP now owns 20,000 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $4,525,000 after buying an additional 4,400 shares in the last quarter. Peoples Bank KS acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter worth about $834,000. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 179,925 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $44,348,000 after acquiring an additional 4,939 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Maj Invest Holding A S increased its position in Union Pacific by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Maj Invest Holding A S now owns 676,098 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $166,645,000 after acquiring an additional 2,202 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP stock traded up $10.99 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $246.79. 1,762,701 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,463,889. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $233.54 and a 200-day moving average price of $239.16. The stock has a market capitalization of $149.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.66, a P/E/G ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79. Union Pacific has a fifty-two week low of $218.55 and a fifty-two week high of $258.66.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.79% and a net margin of 27.33%. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $2.71 EPS. Analysts predict that Union Pacific will post 10.96 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 9th were issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.17%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 9th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 49.22%.

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.