United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) Shares Sold by IMS Capital Management

IMS Capital Management trimmed its holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 16.6% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,954 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 390 shares during the period. IMS Capital Management’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $246,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 1.0% in the fourth quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 281,559 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $35,507,000 after purchasing an additional 2,846 shares during the period. Avestar Capital LLC grew its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 20.9% in the fourth quarter. Avestar Capital LLC now owns 2,753 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $347,000 after buying an additional 475 shares in the last quarter. Howard Bailey Securities LLC acquired a new position in United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter valued at about $365,000. PrairieView Partners LLC increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 180.0% during the 4th quarter. PrairieView Partners LLC now owns 420 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $52,000 after buying an additional 270 shares during the period. Finally, Naples Global Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 2.6% in the fourth quarter. Naples Global Advisors LLC now owns 47,798 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $6,027,000 after acquiring an additional 1,227 shares in the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

United Parcel Service Stock Up 1.3 %

UPS opened at $115.74 on Friday. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 52 week low of $109.40 and a 52 week high of $158.95. The firm has a market cap of $98.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.12, a PEG ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 0.98. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $124.96 and its 200 day simple moving average is $128.96. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.52 by $0.23. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 39.13% and a net margin of 6.35%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.47 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be issued a dividend of $1.64 per share. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.67%. This is an increase from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 18th. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is presently 96.45%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other United Parcel Service news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total value of $1,015,025.25. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 45,098 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,249,229.86. This trade represents a 13.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on UPS. Loop Capital decreased their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Baird R W cut United Parcel Service from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Raymond James reduced their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $155.00 to $145.00 and set a “strong-buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Evercore ISI increased their price target on United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $135.00 to $120.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, United Parcel Service currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $140.73.

United Parcel Service 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.