Bell Bank Purchases 8,712 Shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Bell Bank increased its holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 14.7% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 67,806 shares of the transportation company's stock after purchasing an additional 8,712 shares during the period. United Parcel Service makes up about 0.6% of Bell Bank's holdings, making the stock its 28th biggest holding. Bell Bank's holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $8,550,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in United Parcel Service by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 829,280 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $113,064,000 after acquiring an additional 33,989 shares in the last quarter. Onyx Bridge Wealth Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter worth approximately $461,000. Synovus Financial Corp grew its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 8.6% in the 3rd quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 87,531 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $11,934,000 after buying an additional 6,941 shares during the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 1,061.1% during the third quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 1,772,765 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $232,959,000 after buying an additional 1,620,091 shares during the last quarter. Finally, HF Advisory Group LLC bought a new stake in United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter worth $1,305,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.26% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at United Parcel Service

In other United Parcel Service news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total value of $1,015,025.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 45,098 shares in the company, valued at $6,249,229.86. The trade was a 13.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Citigroup decreased their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $158.00 to $149.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. StockNews.com raised United Parcel Service from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Raymond James cut their price target on United Parcel Service from $155.00 to $145.00 and set a "strong-buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $82.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Baird R W downgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $140.73.

United Parcel Service Stock Down 0.2 %

NYSE:UPS opened at $116.35 on Friday. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 1-year low of $109.40 and a 1-year high of $158.95. 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 firm has a market capitalization of $99.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.21, a PEG ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.98. The company's fifty day moving average price is $123.21 and its 200-day moving average price is $128.33.

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, beating the consensus estimate of $2.52 by $0.23. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.35% and a return on equity of 39.13%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.47 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be paid a dividend of $1.64 per share. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.64%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is 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%.

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.

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