Hartford Investment Management Co. Has $8.54 Million Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Hartford Investment Management Co. decreased its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 2.2% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 37,445 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 856 shares during the period. Hartford Investment Management Co.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $8,539,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Gladstone Institutional Advisory LLC raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Gladstone Institutional Advisory LLC now owns 17,972 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $4,098,000 after purchasing an additional 57 shares in the last quarter. Certuity LLC increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 53.2% in the fourth quarter. Certuity LLC now owns 1,747 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $398,000 after buying an additional 607 shares during the last quarter. David Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $390,000. Leavell Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 2.3% in the fourth quarter. Leavell Investment Management Inc. now owns 9,442 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,153,000 after acquiring an additional 214 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Portfolio Design Labs LLC grew its position in Union Pacific by 19.8% in the fourth quarter. Portfolio Design Labs LLC now owns 7,703 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,757,000 after acquiring an additional 1,273 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE UNP opened at $247.81 on Wednesday. The company’s fifty day moving average is $235.21 and its two-hundred day moving average is $240.25. Union Pacific Co. has a 52-week low of $218.55 and a 52-week high of $258.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.63. The firm has a market capitalization of $150.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.35, a P/E/G ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 1.06.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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 quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.71 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 12.01 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.16%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is presently 48.33%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UNP has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Barclays raised their target price on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on Union Pacific from $288.00 to $283.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Susquehanna cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Loop Capital lowered Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $265.00 to $200.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $261.40.

Insider Activity

In other news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction 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. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total transaction of $1,636,740.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,632,388. This trade 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.

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.