Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Downgraded by Daiwa America to Hold

Daiwa America downgraded shares of Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) from a moderate buy rating to a hold rating in a research report released on Wednesday morning, Zacks.com reports.

Several other analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. Susquehanna cut their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $250.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, June 25th. Wells Fargo & Company began coverage on Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, June 7th. They set an overweight rating and a $270.00 price target on the stock. Loop Capital lowered Union Pacific from a buy rating to a hold rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $276.00 to $238.00 in a research report on Monday, June 17th. Benchmark reiterated a buy rating and issued a $266.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Monday, July 29th. Finally, Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $290.00 to $280.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, July 26th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $258.79.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE UNP traded down $1.58 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $254.12. 515,528 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,255,123. The company has a quick ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.89. Union Pacific has a 1 year low of $199.33 and a 1 year high of $258.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $154.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.24, a PEG ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 1.05. The business has a 50 day moving average of $239.52 and a two-hundred day moving average of $239.27.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.74 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 company had revenue of $6.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.05 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.57 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up .7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Union Pacific will post 11.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 30th will be given a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 30th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.11%. This is a boost from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is currently 51.15%.

Insider Activity

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,552 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $246.59, for a total value of $875,887.68. Following the completion of the sale, the president now directly owns 64,945 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,014,787.55. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Richardson Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the 1st quarter worth $26,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. grew its position in Union Pacific by 211.4% in the 4th quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 109 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares during the last quarter. Cultivar Capital Inc. bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the second quarter valued at about $28,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

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.