APG Asset Management N.V. Sells 59,094 Shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

APG Asset Management N.V. decreased its holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 58.1% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 42,600 shares of the transportation company's stock after selling 59,094 shares during the period. APG Asset Management N.V.'s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $5,188,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Norges Bank bought a new position in United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter worth approximately $1,075,393,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter worth $393,680,000. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 15.6% during the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 10,979,909 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $1,384,567,000 after buying an additional 1,484,452 shares in the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp increased its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 77.7% during the fourth quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 3,150,901 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $397,329,000 after buying an additional 1,378,136 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 6.1% in the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 23,264,665 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $2,933,674,000 after acquiring an additional 1,337,058 shares in the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have weighed in on UPS. Robert W. Baird lowered United Parcel Service from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $160.00 to $130.00 in a report on Friday, January 31st. StockNews.com downgraded United Parcel Service from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, April 10th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $156.00 to $153.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. UBS Group lowered their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $127.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 3rd. Finally, Evercore ISI boosted their target price 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. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $131.32.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UPS traded down $0.89 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $95.61. 1,269,960 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,446,051. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 52 week low of $90.55 and a 52 week high of $153.42. The company has a market cap of $81.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.10. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $111.50 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $123.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.17.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates 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 period in the previous year, the company posted $2.47 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were paid a $1.64 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 18th. This is an increase from United Parcel Service's previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.86%. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio is 97.04%.

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.