Commonwealth Retirement Investments LLC Sells 2,421 Shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Commonwealth Retirement Investments LLC decreased its holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 7.8% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 28,420 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 2,421 shares during the period. United Parcel Service accounts for about 1.5% of Commonwealth Retirement Investments LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 19th biggest holding. Commonwealth Retirement Investments LLC’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $3,584,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Mengis Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in United Parcel Service by 39.5% during the fourth quarter. Mengis Capital Management Inc. now owns 16,761 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $2,114,000 after buying an additional 4,745 shares during the last quarter. Pine Valley Investments Ltd Liability Co boosted its stake in United Parcel Service by 4.8% during the fourth quarter. Pine Valley Investments Ltd Liability Co now owns 27,714 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $3,495,000 after buying an additional 1,257 shares during the last quarter. BankPlus Trust Department purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $825,000. Skylands Capital LLC raised its position in United Parcel Service by 24.6% during the fourth quarter. Skylands Capital LLC now owns 40,200 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $5,069,000 after purchasing an additional 7,925 shares during the period. Finally, IFP Advisors Inc raised its position in United Parcel Service by 270.4% during the fourth quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 7,933 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $1,000,000 after purchasing an additional 5,791 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

United Parcel Service Trading Down 0.3 %

UPS opened at $116.00 on Tuesday. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $122.96 and its two-hundred day moving average is $128.32. The company has a market capitalization of $99.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.16, a PEG ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.98. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 52 week low of $109.40 and a 52 week high of $158.95. 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 released its quarterly earnings data 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 return on equity of 39.13% and a net margin of 6.35%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.47 EPS. Analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share 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 given a dividend of $1.64 per share. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.66%. 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 (DPR) is 97.04%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have issued reports on UPS. StockNews.com upgraded United Parcel Service from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. Citigroup decreased their price objective on United Parcel Service from $158.00 to $149.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $128.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. BMO Capital Markets upgraded United Parcel Service from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $155.00 to $150.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Finally, UBS Group decreased their price objective on United Parcel Service from $170.00 to $141.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, United Parcel Service currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $140.73.

About United Parcel Service

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.