Russell Investments Group Ltd. Has $49.31 Million Stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 19.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 391,291 shares of the transportation company’s stock after buying an additional 64,746 shares during the quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd.’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $49,308,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Rahlfs Capital LLC bought a new stake in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter worth $233,000. Ted Buchan & Co acquired a new stake in United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter valued at about $972,000. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC grew its position in United Parcel Service by 16.3% in the fourth quarter. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC now owns 165,042 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $20,812,000 after acquiring an additional 23,136 shares during the last quarter. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd acquired a new position in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter worth about $596,000. Finally, Aviva PLC lifted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 32.1% in the fourth quarter. Aviva PLC now owns 441,124 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $55,626,000 after acquiring an additional 107,148 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

Shares of UPS opened at $97.62 on Monday. The business’s fifty day moving average is $115.82 and its 200 day moving average is $125.57. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12-month low of $94.87 and a 12-month high of $153.42. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. The stock has a market cap of $83.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.44, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.94.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.52 by $0.23. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.35% and a return on equity of 39.13%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.47 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 18th were given a dividend of $1.64 per share. This is a boost from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 18th. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.72%. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is presently 97.04%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UPS has been the topic of several research reports. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $90.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 31st. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $128.00 to $120.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 27th. StockNews.com raised United Parcel Service from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $82.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price target on United Parcel Service from $156.00 to $153.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $133.18.

United Parcel Service Company Profile

United Parcel Service, Inc, a package delivery company, provides transportation and delivery, distribution, contract logistics, ocean freight, airfreight, customs brokerage, and insurance services. It operates through two segments, U.S. Domestic Package and International Package. The U.S. Domestic Package segment offers time-definite delivery of express letters, documents, small packages, and palletized freight through air and ground services in the United States.