United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) Shares Purchased by World Investment Advisors

World Investment Advisors raised its stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 11.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 19,616 shares of the transportation company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,941 shares during the period. World Investment Advisors’ holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $2,474,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 69.0% in the third quarter. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 19,068 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $2,591,000 after acquiring an additional 7,786 shares during the period. Janus Henderson Group PLC boosted its stake in United Parcel Service by 202.9% during the 3rd quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 269,498 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $36,741,000 after purchasing an additional 180,519 shares during the period. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. grew its position in United Parcel Service by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. now owns 303,810 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $41,421,000 after purchasing an additional 8,650 shares during the last quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP raised its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 57.7% in the third quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP now owns 64,733 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $8,826,000 after buying an additional 23,678 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quadrature Capital Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the third quarter worth about $2,608,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

United Parcel Service Stock Down 2.5 %

UPS stock opened at $97.62 on Friday. 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 company’s 50 day simple moving average is $115.82 and its 200-day simple moving average is $125.64. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12 month low of $96.57 and a 12 month high of $153.42. The firm has a market capitalization of $83.39 billion, a PE ratio of 14.44, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.94.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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 business earned $2.47 earnings per share. Equities analysts expect that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were paid a dividend of $1.64 per share. This is a boost from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.72%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 18th. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 97.04%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on UPS shares. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price target on 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. Evercore ISI upped their price target 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. Raymond James lowered their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $155.00 to $145.00 and set a “strong-buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Citigroup cut their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $158.00 to $149.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of United Parcel Service from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $133.18.

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.