Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Decreases Stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans cut its holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 52.0% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 661,828 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 717,838 shares during the quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans owned 0.08% of United Parcel Service worth $83,485,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the business. PDS Planning Inc boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 1.0% in the fourth quarter. PDS Planning Inc now owns 34,583 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $4,361,000 after buying an additional 327 shares in the last quarter. Retirement Planning Co of New England Inc. boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 4.8% in the fourth quarter. Retirement Planning Co of New England Inc. now owns 2,519 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $318,000 after buying an additional 116 shares in the last quarter. Mystic Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 22.0% in the fourth quarter. Mystic Asset Management Inc. now owns 4,430 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $559,000 after buying an additional 799 shares in the last quarter. Leelyn Smith LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $2,656,000. Finally, RD Lewis Holdings Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $417,000. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have commented on UPS shares. Citigroup decreased their target price 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. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on United Parcel Service from $156.00 to $153.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Wolfe Research upgraded United Parcel Service from a “peer perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $147.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. UBS Group decreased their target price 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. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded United Parcel Service from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 5th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $138.09.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:UPS opened at $118.85 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $101.51 billion, a PE ratio of 17.58, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.14. The business has a 50-day moving average of $120.67 and a two-hundred day moving average of $127.25. 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 announced its quarterly 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 return on equity of 39.13% and a net margin of 6.35%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.47 earnings per share. As a group, 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 company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were paid a dividend of $1.64 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 18th. This is a positive change from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.52%. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is currently 97.04%.

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.