Bell Bank Boosts Position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Bell Bank raised its stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 14.7% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 67,806 shares of the transportation company’s stock after acquiring an additional 8,712 shares during the period. United Parcel Service makes up 0.6% of Bell Bank’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest position. Bell Bank’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $8,550,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. PYA Waltman Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 4.4% during the fourth quarter. PYA Waltman Capital LLC now owns 19,275 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $2,431,000 after buying an additional 819 shares during the period. Centricity Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth about $149,000. Investors Asset Management of Georgia Inc. GA ADV boosted its position in United Parcel Service by 2.1% during the fourth quarter. Investors Asset Management of Georgia Inc. GA ADV now owns 7,387 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $932,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. RPS Advisory Solutions LLC grew its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 7.8% in the fourth quarter. RPS Advisory Solutions LLC now owns 5,583 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $704,000 after purchasing an additional 406 shares during the period. Finally, Capital Investment Counsel Inc lifted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Capital Investment Counsel Inc now owns 36,845 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $4,646,000 after acquiring an additional 301 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

United Parcel Service Trading Down 0.2 %

NYSE:UPS opened at $116.35 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $99.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.21, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.98. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $123.21 and a 200 day simple moving average of $128.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.14. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12-month low of $109.40 and a 12-month high of $158.95.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 period in the previous year, the business posted $2.47 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be paid 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 is Tuesday, February 18th. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.64%. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 97.04%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UPS has been the subject of a number of research reports. Wolfe Research upgraded United Parcel Service from a “peer perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $147.00 target price for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $128.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Susquehanna dropped their target price on United Parcel Service from $140.00 to $130.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Argus upgraded United Parcel Service from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $156.00 to $153.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, United Parcel Service presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $140.73.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other United Parcel Service news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of United Parcel Service stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total value of $1,015,025.25. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 45,098 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,249,229.86. The trade was a 13.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.13% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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.