Bradley Foster & Sargent Inc. CT Purchases 146,901 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Bradley Foster & Sargent Inc. CT raised its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 81.1% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 328,121 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 146,901 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific comprises 1.3% of Bradley Foster & Sargent Inc. CT’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 20th biggest holding. Bradley Foster & Sargent Inc. CT’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $74,825,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Howard Capital Management Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 16.4% during the 3rd quarter. Howard Capital Management Group LLC now owns 2,860 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $705,000 after buying an additional 403 shares in the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 51.4% during the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 63,565 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $15,668,000 after acquiring an additional 21,570 shares in the last quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 7.1% in the third quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,875 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $709,000 after purchasing an additional 190 shares in the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.3% during the 3rd quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 40,709 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $10,034,000 after purchasing an additional 523 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Elevated Capital Advisors LLC raised its stake in Union Pacific by 139.4% during the 3rd quarter. Elevated Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,038 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $749,000 after buying an additional 1,769 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $1,875,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now directly 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 transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares in the company, 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 owned by corporate insiders.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.2 %

UNP stock opened at $247.64 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $149.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.33, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a fifty-two week low of $218.55 and a fifty-two week high of $258.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.77. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $237.47 and a 200-day moving average of $240.61.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.71 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UNP has been the subject of a number of research reports. Citigroup raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Loop Capital lowered Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $265.00 to $200.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, 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. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $261.40.

Union Pacific 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.