As previously reported, Loop Capital analyst Rick Paterson downgraded Union Pacific to Hold from Buy and lowered his price target to $182 from $193. Amid the meltdown of western railroads, the analyst says Union Pacific "wins the award for the world's unluckiest", noting that in spite of reeling from the Oregon tunnel collapse last May, the more recent polar vortex and Nebraska flooding delivered a "one-two punch" to the company. Paterson also lowers his FY19 EPS view to $8.72 from $8.86 and FY20 forecast to $9.95 from $10.09 on Union Pacific and sees its P/E topping at 18-times, stating it "makes sense to scale back" the rating.

Deutsche Bank placed a "Catalyst Call: Buy" on shares of Union Pacific (UNP) as a short-term investment idea. With all the attention Norfolk Southern (NSC) is getting in recent months, it is easy to overlook developments at other railroads, the analyst tells investors in a research note. The firm says Union Pacific is now the worst performing pail stock year-to-date. However, operating metrics "clearly show that UNP's renewed efforts on operations are gaining traction," contends Deutsche Bank. It keeps a Buy rating on the shares with a $266 price target.