Alpha Cubed Investments LLC Decreases Stock Position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Alpha Cubed Investments LLC cut its stake in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 27.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 8,528 shares of the transportation company's stock after selling 3,208 shares during the quarter. Alpha Cubed Investments LLC's holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $1,075,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Brookmont Capital Management raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 26.5% in the fourth quarter. Brookmont Capital Management now owns 27,167 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $3,426,000 after buying an additional 5,691 shares in the last quarter. Sugar Maple Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter valued at $38,000. Mitchell & Pahl Private Wealth LLC raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 8.1% during the 4th quarter. Mitchell & Pahl Private Wealth LLC now owns 16,741 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $2,111,000 after acquiring an additional 1,249 shares in the last quarter. Culbertson A N & Co. Inc. boosted its stake in United Parcel Service by 1.6% in the fourth quarter. Culbertson A N & Co. Inc. now owns 28,416 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $3,583,000 after acquiring an additional 435 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ZWJ Investment Counsel Inc. grew its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 4.1% during the fourth quarter. ZWJ Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 4,869 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $614,000 after purchasing an additional 193 shares during the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

United Parcel Service Trading Up 2.1 %

UPS stock traded up $2.75 on Tuesday, hitting $132.48. 3,539,382 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,473,585. The stock has a market capitalization of $113.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 1.00. The business's fifty day moving average is $128.92 and its two-hundred day moving average is $130.83. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a twelve month low of $121.56 and a twelve month high of $161.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 1.14.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The transportation company reported $1.76 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.63 by $0.13. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 37.38% and a net margin of 6.25%. The business had revenue of $22.20 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.10 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.57 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.49 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 18th were paid a $1.63 dividend. This represents a $6.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.92%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 18th. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio is currently 98.49%.

Insider Transactions at United Parcel Service

In related news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of United Parcel Service stock in a transaction on Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total transaction of $1,015,025.25. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 45,098 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,249,229.86. The trade was a 13.97 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 0.13% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UPS has been the topic of several research analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price target on United Parcel Service from $165.00 to $162.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. Barclays reaffirmed an "underweight" rating and issued a $120.00 target price on shares of United Parcel Service in a report on Monday, October 21st. Oppenheimer increased their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $140.00 to $146.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, October 28th. Argus upgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on United Parcel Service from $155.00 to $150.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, United Parcel Service currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $151.10.

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.