United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) Shares Purchased by Scotia Capital Inc.

Scotia Capital Inc. raised its position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 0.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 108,238 shares of the transportation company’s stock after buying an additional 881 shares during the quarter. Scotia Capital Inc.’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $13,649,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of UPS. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter worth about $1,075,393,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in shares of United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth approximately $393,680,000. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 15.6% during the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 10,979,909 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $1,384,567,000 after buying an additional 1,484,452 shares in the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 77.7% in the fourth quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 3,150,901 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $397,329,000 after buying an additional 1,378,136 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 6.1% in the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 23,264,665 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $2,933,674,000 after buying an additional 1,337,058 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

United Parcel Service stock opened at $96.42 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $112.40 and a 200 day moving average price of $124.21. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 52 week low of $90.55 and a 52 week high of $153.42. The firm has a market capitalization of $82.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.26, a PEG ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a current ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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 quarter last year, the company posted $2.47 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate 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 disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were paid a dividend of $1.64 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 18th. This is a boost from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.80%. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is currently 97.04%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have commented on UPS shares. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on United Parcel Service from $128.00 to $120.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 27th. Evercore ISI raised their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $90.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 31st. Raymond James reduced their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $145.00 to $130.00 and set a “strong-buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Robert W. Baird cut United Parcel Service from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $160.00 to $130.00 in a report on Friday, January 31st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, United Parcel Service currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $131.32.

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.