Strategic Equity Management Takes $1.22 Million Position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Strategic Equity Management purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 9,688 shares of the transportation company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,222,000. United Parcel Service comprises approximately 0.5% of Strategic Equity Management’s portfolio, making the stock its 22nd largest holding.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Amundi grew its holdings in United Parcel Service by 14.6% during the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 10,040,863 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $1,272,600,000 after acquiring an additional 1,277,328 shares during the period. Capital Management Corp VA lifted its position in United Parcel Service by 18.2% in the 4th quarter. Capital Management Corp VA now owns 48,934 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $6,171,000 after acquiring an additional 7,541 shares in the last quarter. Lifeworks Advisors LLC lifted its position in United Parcel Service by 6.0% in the 4th quarter. Lifeworks Advisors LLC now owns 2,546 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $321,000 after acquiring an additional 145 shares in the last quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC lifted its position in United Parcel Service by 12.2% in the 4th quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 8,220 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $1,037,000 after acquiring an additional 896 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Generali Investments CEE investicni spolecnost a.s. bought a new position in United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,463,000. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on UPS shares. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $166.00 to $147.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Loop Capital dropped their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Robert W. Baird cut shares of United Parcel Service from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and dropped their price target for the company from $160.00 to $130.00 in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price target on shares of 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. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised shares of United Parcel Service from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $155.00 to $150.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $138.00.

United Parcel Service Stock Up 0.9 %

United Parcel Service stock opened at $121.59 on Friday. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 1-year low of $109.40 and a 1-year high of $158.95. The firm has a market capitalization of $103.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.99, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a current ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $121.73 and a 200 day simple moving average of $127.77.

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 analysts’ consensus estimates 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 period last year, the business posted $2.47 earnings per share. On average, analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

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

United Parcel Service 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.