Stifel Nicolaus Lowers Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Price Target to $248.00

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) had its price target decreased by Stifel Nicolaus from $270.00 to $248.00 in a research note issued on Monday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a “buy” rating on the railroad operator’s stock. Stifel Nicolaus’ target price would indicate a potential upside of 12.03% from the stock’s previous close.

Several other brokerages have also commented on UNP. UBS Group dropped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. Benchmark boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 27th. Citigroup raised shares of Union Pacific from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $260.00 to $244.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, TD Cowen lifted their price objective on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $257.43.

Union Pacific Price Performance

UNP stock traded up $2.78 on Monday, hitting $221.37. 579,018 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,512,805. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. The stock has a market cap of $132.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.96, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $237.48 and a 200-day moving average of $237.24. Union Pacific has a 1-year low of $204.66 and a 1-year high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share for the quarter, beating 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 last year, the business posted $2.71 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that Union Pacific will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on 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 sale, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This trade represents a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, January 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total transaction 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 approximately $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

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