South Dakota Investment Council Raises Position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

South Dakota Investment Council raised its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 42.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 117,820 shares of the transportation company’s stock after acquiring an additional 35,370 shares during the quarter. South Dakota Investment Council’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $14,857,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. World Equity Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 87.8% during the 4th quarter. World Equity Group Inc. now owns 5,062 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $638,000 after buying an additional 2,367 shares in the last quarter. Delta Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter valued at $1,098,000. Howard Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 13.5% during the 4th quarter. Howard Capital Management Inc. now owns 7,182 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $906,000 after buying an additional 852 shares in the last quarter. Marshall Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter valued at $120,000. Finally, TCW Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 21.6% during the 4th quarter. TCW Group Inc. now owns 165,596 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $20,882,000 after buying an additional 29,411 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

United Parcel Service stock opened at $116.35 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $99.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.98. 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 1 year low of $109.40 and a 1 year high of $158.95. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $123.21 and a two-hundred day moving average of $128.36.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share 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 firm posted $2.47 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be given a $1.64 dividend. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.64%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 18th. This is a boost from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is presently 97.04%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have issued reports on UPS shares. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $82.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. UBS Group reduced their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $170.00 to $141.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Argus upgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Raymond James reduced their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $155.00 to $145.00 and set a “strong-buy” rating on the stock in a 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 given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $140.73.

Insider Transactions at United Parcel Service

In other news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the company’s 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 completion of the sale, the insider now owns 45,098 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,249,229.86. This represents a 13.97 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

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.