Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Cut to “Sell” at Loop Capital

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) was downgraded by analysts at Loop Capital from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report released on Monday,Briefing.com Automated Import reports. They presently have a $200.00 price objective on the railroad operator’s stock, down from their prior price objective of $265.00. Loop Capital’s target price would indicate a potential downside of 19.31% from the stock’s previous close.

Several other equities research analysts also recently issued reports on UNP. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Citigroup increased their price target on Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Benchmark upped their price objective on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Susquehanna reduced their price objective on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on Union Pacific from $288.00 to $283.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $261.40.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.8 %

NYSE UNP opened at $247.85 on Monday. Union Pacific has a 12 month low of $218.55 and a 12 month high of $258.66. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $235.41 and a 200 day simple moving average of $240.14. The company has a market capitalization of $150.26 billion, a PE ratio of 22.35, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 earned $2.71 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Union Pacific will post 12.03 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $1,875,000.00. Following the transaction, the president now 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 sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred 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 transaction, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This trade represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Union Pacific

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Ieq Capital LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 3.2% during the 4th quarter. Ieq Capital LLC now owns 32,522 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $7,416,000 after acquiring an additional 1,001 shares during the period. Private Wealth Partners LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 2.7% during the 4th quarter. Private Wealth Partners LLC now owns 3,083 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $703,000 after acquiring an additional 82 shares during the period. Bryn Mawr Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 27.5% during the 4th quarter. Bryn Mawr Capital Management LLC now owns 28,817 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $6,571,000 after acquiring an additional 6,220 shares during the period. Alberta Investment Management Corp increased its stake in Union Pacific by 1,153.8% during the 4th quarter. Alberta Investment Management Corp now owns 36,360 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $8,292,000 after acquiring an additional 33,460 shares during the period. Finally, Atlas Legacy Advisors LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth $403,000. 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.