Crawford Investment Counsel Inc. Has $82.38 Million Stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. $UPS

Crawford Investment Counsel Inc. reduced its stake in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 986,238 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 30,442 shares during the period. United Parcel Service accounts for approximately 1.4% of Crawford Investment Counsel Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 26th biggest position. Crawford Investment Counsel Inc. owned approximately 0.12% of United Parcel Service worth $82,380,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Evelyn Partners Investment Management Europe Ltd boosted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 110.1% in the second quarter. Evelyn Partners Investment Management Europe Ltd now owns 250 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 131 shares during the last quarter. Salzhauer Michael bought a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 3rd quarter valued at $31,000. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 76.5% during the third quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 376 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 163 shares during the period. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in United Parcel Service during the second quarter worth $34,000. Finally, Avion Wealth lifted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 284.1% in the third quarter. Avion Wealth now owns 434 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 321 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at United Parcel Service

In other news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 25,014 shares of United Parcel Service stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $106.15, for a total transaction of $2,655,236.10. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Company insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UPS has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on United Parcel Service from $88.00 to $106.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Wolfe Research reissued a “peer perform” rating on shares of United Parcel Service in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Stephens increased their price target on United Parcel Service from $113.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $116.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $115.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $113.67.

United Parcel Service Trading Down 0.6%

Shares of United Parcel Service stock opened at $97.27 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $82.59 billion, a PE ratio of 14.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 1.08. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 52 week low of $82.00 and a 52 week high of $122.41. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $110.04 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $97.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a current ratio of 1.22.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The transportation company reported $2.38 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.20 by $0.18. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 38.30% and a net margin of 6.28%.The company had revenue of $24.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $23.91 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.75 earnings per share. United Parcel Service’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 5th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th were issued a dividend of $1.64 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 17th. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.7%. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is presently 100.00%.

United Parcel Service Company Profile

United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS) is a global package delivery and supply chain management company that provides a broad range of transportation, logistics and e-commerce services. Its core business centers on small-package delivery and last-mile distribution for business and individual customers, supported by a network of ground transportation, air cargo operations (UPS Airlines) and sorting facilities. In addition to parcel delivery, UPS offers freight transportation, contract logistics, warehousing, customs brokerage and reverse-logistics solutions designed to support domestic and international commerce.

The company traces its roots to 1907 when it began as a small messenger service in the United States and later evolved into the United Parcel Service.