State of Michigan Retirement System Decreases Stock Position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

State of Michigan Retirement System trimmed its position in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 0.5% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 198,514 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 1,000 shares during the quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $25,033,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. IFS Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 232.3% in the fourth quarter. IFS Advisors LLC now owns 216 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 151 shares during the period. True Wealth Design LLC grew its position in United Parcel Service by 397.7% in the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 214 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 171 shares during the last quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC bought a new position in United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. FSA Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service in the third quarter worth $36,000. Finally, Sugar Maple Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter worth $38,000. 60.26% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

United Parcel Service Trading Down 2.1 %

NYSE:UPS opened at $116.79 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $99.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.28, a PEG ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.98. The company has a current ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12 month low of $109.40 and a 12 month high of $158.95. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $122.09 and a 200-day simple moving average of $127.94.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last posted its quarterly earnings results 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 quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.47 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate 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 will be paid on Thursday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be issued a $1.64 dividend. This is an increase from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.62%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 18th. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is 97.04%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UPS has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Evercore ISI upped their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $166.00 to $147.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. UBS Group decreased their price target on shares of 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. Loop Capital lowered their price target on United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Bank of America reduced their price objective 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. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price 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.