Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Hits New 52-Week High on Better-Than-Expected Earnings

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)’s share price reached a new 52-week high on Friday following a better than expected earnings announcement. The stock traded as high as $271.26 and last traded at $271.09, with a volume of 8477257 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $249.40.

The railroad operator reported $2.93 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.86 by $0.07. Union Pacific had a net margin of 29.20% and a return on equity of 39.58%. The firm had revenue of $6.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.12 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.70 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.2% compared to the same quarter last year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th were paid a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 27th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is presently 45.47%.

Key Union Pacific News

Here are the key news stories impacting Union Pacific this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 results beat and guidance reaffirmed — UNP reported upside to consensus (adjusted EPS $2.93, revenue ~$6.22B) and reiterated its full‑year outlook, with management highlighting efficiency gains and record net income that support near‑term earnings visibility. Business Wire: Q1 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts lifting targets and ratings — Multiple firms raised price targets or reiterated buy/neutral views after the upbeat quarter, signaling Wall Street is repricing UNP higher on execution and pricing power. Benzinga: Analyst Note
• Positive Sentiment: Merger optionality resurfacing — Management said a revised regulatory filing for the proposed Norfolk Southern acquisition is imminent, keeping upside from potential synergies and deal progress in play. That comment has supported optimistic positioning. QuiverQuant: Deal Progress
• Positive Sentiment: Momentum drove a 52‑week high — The combination of the beat, guidance affirmation and deal commentary pushed UNP to fresh highs earlier this week, reflecting strong sentiment among growth/value investors. American Banking News: 12‑Month High
• Neutral Sentiment: Earnings call/transcripts available — The full Q1 call and transcripts provide detail on freight mix, pricing, merger prep and cost items for investors doing due diligence. Yahoo Finance: Earnings Highlights
• Negative Sentiment: Fuel costs threaten margins — Management warned that higher fuel prices will pressure margins, a near‑term headwind that could erode some of the beat if fuel/operating costs accelerate. MSN: Fuel Headwind
• Negative Sentiment: Regulatory and execution risks on the merger remain — The STB previously found the initial filing incomplete and merger‑related costs hit results; regulatory timing and potential additional remediation remain material risks that can re‑rate the stock if progress stalls. QuiverQuant: Regulatory Update

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have weighed in on UNP. TD Cowen boosted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $256.00 to $282.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday. Barclays restated an “overweight” rating and set a $315.00 price target (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $267.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday. Sanford C. Bernstein upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $289.00 to $293.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 31st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company restated an “overweight” rating and set a $300.00 price target (up from $260.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $278.38.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In other news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 1,999 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $234.93, for a total transaction of $469,625.07. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Union Pacific

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.1% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 59,329,262 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $13,724,045,000 after purchasing an additional 659,378 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 4.3% in the fourth quarter. State Street Corp now owns 26,330,080 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $6,090,674,000 after purchasing an additional 1,082,285 shares during the period. Capital World Investors lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 92.1% in the fourth quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 20,136,349 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $4,658,142,000 after purchasing an additional 9,655,306 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.0% in the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 15,360,668 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $3,552,550,000 after purchasing an additional 296,814 shares during the period. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 5.0% in the fourth quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 12,636,050 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,922,971,000 after purchasing an additional 602,647 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.8%

The firm has a market cap of $159.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.18, a P/E/G ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.96. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $251.76 and its two-hundred day moving average is $238.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53, a current ratio of 0.92 and a quick ratio of 0.75.

About Union Pacific

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services.

Union Pacific’s core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western two‑thirds of the United States.