Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC Has $2.71 Million Stock Holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC cut its stake in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 13.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 21,492 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 3,407 shares during the period. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $2,710,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. True Wealth Design LLC boosted its position in United Parcel Service by 397.7% during the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 214 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 171 shares during the last quarter. IFS Advisors LLC raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 232.3% in the fourth quarter. IFS Advisors LLC now owns 216 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 151 shares during the period. FSA Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in United Parcel Service in the third quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC bought a new stake in United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, Sugar Maple Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $38,000. 60.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

United Parcel Service Trading Up 0.9 %

Shares of UPS stock opened at $121.59 on Friday. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $121.73 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $127.78. The company has a market cap of $103.85 billion, a PE ratio of 17.99, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.98. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $109.40 and a fifty-two week high of $158.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.17.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates 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 firm posted $2.47 EPS. Equities analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were issued a $1.64 dividend. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.40%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 18th. This is an increase from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 97.04%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have issued reports on UPS. Susquehanna dropped their price objective on United Parcel Service from $140.00 to $130.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Citigroup dropped their price objective on United Parcel Service from $158.00 to $149.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Robert W. Baird lowered United Parcel Service from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $160.00 to $130.00 in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on United Parcel Service from $156.00 to $153.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Finally, Evercore ISI increased their target price on United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Two equities 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 given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $138.00.

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.