Retirement Systems of Alabama Trims Stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Retirement Systems of Alabama trimmed its position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 0.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 158,348 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 1,155 shares during the quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $19,968,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. CarsonAllaria Wealth Management Ltd. lifted its stake in United Parcel Service by 44.7% in the fourth quarter. CarsonAllaria Wealth Management Ltd. now owns 1,558 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $196,000 after acquiring an additional 481 shares during the period. Greenwood Capital Associates LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter worth approximately $694,000. E. Ohman J or Asset Management AB boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 11.5% during the fourth quarter. E. Ohman J or Asset Management AB now owns 33,011 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $4,163,000 after purchasing an additional 3,400 shares in the last quarter. Mather Group LLC. increased its holdings in United Parcel Service by 7.4% during the fourth quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 26,620 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $3,357,000 after buying an additional 1,823 shares during the period. Finally, Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 8.0% in the fourth quarter. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. now owns 4,835 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $610,000 after buying an additional 357 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

United Parcel Service Trading Up 1.4 %

Shares of United Parcel Service stock opened at $113.47 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 debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.14. The stock has a market cap of $96.83 billion, a PE ratio of 16.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 0.98. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $126.84 and a 200 day moving average price of $129.57.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) 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 previous year, the firm posted $2.47 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 8.61 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be paid a dividend of $1.64 per share. This is a boost 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 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.78%. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 96.45%.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total transaction of $1,015,025.25. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 45,098 shares in the company, valued at $6,249,229.86. This trade represents a 13.97 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UPS has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Bank of America cut their price target on United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $133.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Robert W. Baird downgraded shares of United Parcel Service from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $160.00 to $130.00 in a report on Friday, January 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $135.00 to $120.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Evercore ISI lifted their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Finally, Argus raised shares of United Parcel Service from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. 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 company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $140.73.

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.