Vest Financial LLC Grows Position in United Parcel Service, Inc. $UPS

Vest Financial LLC raised its holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 39.2% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 11,745 shares of the transportation company’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,309 shares during the period. Vest Financial LLC’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $1,186,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of UPS. Graybill Wealth Management LTD. purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 1st quarter valued at about $26,000. Citizens National Bank Trust Department raised its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 525.0% in the 1st quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department now owns 250 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 210 shares in the last quarter. Hemington Wealth Management raised its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 68.9% in the 1st quarter. Hemington Wealth Management now owns 282 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 115 shares in the last quarter. Saudi Central Bank purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 1st quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Flaharty Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 1st quarter valued at about $33,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UPS has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Citigroup lowered their price target on United Parcel Service from $114.00 to $112.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday. BMO Capital Markets reissued a “market perform” rating and set a $96.00 price objective (down from $125.00) on shares of United Parcel Service in a report on Friday, September 19th. Vertical Research reissued a “hold” rating and set a $103.00 price objective on shares of United Parcel Service in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “sell (d+)” rating on shares of United Parcel Service in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price objective on United Parcel Service from $124.00 to $120.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $109.31.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Christiana Smith Shi purchased 500 shares of United Parcel Service stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 22nd. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $88.17 per share, for a total transaction of $44,085.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 500 shares in the company, valued at $44,085. The trade was a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director William R. Johnson acquired 5,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 31st. The stock was acquired at an average price of $86.50 per share, for a total transaction of $432,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 10,160 shares in the company, valued at approximately $878,840. The trade was a 96.90% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders have purchased a total of 17,182 shares of company stock worth $1,477,382 in the last ninety days. 0.13% of the stock is owned by insiders.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

UPS opened at $84.10 on Thursday. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $85.60 and its 200 day simple moving average is $93.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.51, a current ratio of 1.32 and a quick ratio of 1.32. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 1 year low of $82.00 and a 1 year high of $145.01. The firm has a market cap of $71.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.51, a PEG ratio of 1.56 and a beta of 1.10.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The transportation company reported $1.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.56 by ($0.01). United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 39.61% and a net margin of 6.34%.The company had revenue of $21.20 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.90 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.79 earnings per share. United Parcel Service’s revenue was down 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 4th. Investors of record on Monday, August 18th were given a dividend of $1.64 per share. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.8%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 18th. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 97.62%.

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.