Artisan Partners Limited Partnership Grows Position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Artisan Partners Limited Partnership grew its holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 5.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,246,471 shares of the transportation company's stock after purchasing an additional 63,882 shares during the quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership owned approximately 0.15% of United Parcel Service worth $157,180,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of UPS. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 9.4% in the 4th quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 1,161,548 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $143,788,000 after buying an additional 99,617 shares during the last quarter. Graney & King LLC purchased a new position in United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter worth $41,000. Ausdal Financial Partners Inc. increased its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 113.5% during the fourth quarter. Ausdal Financial Partners Inc. now owns 5,106 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $644,000 after purchasing an additional 2,714 shares in the last quarter. TrueMark Investments LLC lifted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 9.3% during the 4th quarter. TrueMark Investments LLC now owns 36,895 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $4,652,000 after purchasing an additional 3,132 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C. acquired a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter worth $336,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.26% of the company's stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have issued reports on UPS shares. StockNews.com upgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on United Parcel Service from $156.00 to $153.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Baird R W lowered United Parcel Service from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Truist Financial assumed coverage on shares of United Parcel Service in a research note on Thursday, March 13th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $140.00 target price for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $135.00 to $120.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $137.57.

United Parcel Service Trading Down 1.2 %

Shares of UPS traded down $1.36 during trading on Friday, reaching $109.66. 3,282,367 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,661,575. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. The stock has a market cap of $93.66 billion, a PE ratio of 16.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.94. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $118.52 and a 200-day simple moving average of $126.42. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a twelve month low of $109.40 and a twelve month high of $154.29.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 EPS 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 quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.47 EPS. On average, 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 declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were given a dividend of $1.64 per share. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.98%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 18th. This is a boost from United Parcel Service's previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio is currently 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.