IFG Advisors LLC Trims Stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

IFG Advisors LLC reduced its position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 9.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 2,809 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 290 shares during the period. IFG Advisors LLC’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $354,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in UPS. Financial Advocates Investment Management raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 112.8% during the 3rd quarter. Financial Advocates Investment Management now owns 8,242 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $1,124,000 after acquiring an additional 4,368 shares during the last quarter. Principal Securities Inc. raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 77.7% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 41,075 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $5,600,000 after acquiring an additional 17,963 shares during the last quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 27.6% during the 3rd quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 2,305 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $314,000 after acquiring an additional 498 shares during the last quarter. Shepherd Financial Partners LLC raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 16.4% during the 3rd quarter. Shepherd Financial Partners LLC now owns 3,601 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $491,000 after acquiring an additional 507 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Murphy Pohlad Asset Management LLC raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. Murphy Pohlad Asset Management LLC now owns 27,779 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $3,787,000 after acquiring an additional 535 shares during the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

NYSE UPS opened at $118.97 on Friday. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 1-year low of $109.40 and a 1-year high of $158.95. The company has a market capitalization of $101.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.60, a PEG ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.98. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $122.41 and a 200 day moving average price of $128.08. 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 (NYSE:UPS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, beating 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 period in the prior year, the company posted $2.47 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared 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 is an increase from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 18th. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.51%. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 97.04%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have commented on the company. Evercore ISI upped their price objective on 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. StockNews.com downgraded United Parcel Service from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $128.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. UBS Group cut their target price on United Parcel Service from $170.00 to $141.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Loop Capital cut their target price on United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, United Parcel Service has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target 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.