Finward Bancorp Acquires New Position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Finward Bancorp bought a new stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 3,560 shares of the transportation company's stock, valued at approximately $449,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UPS. Regal Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 6.1% during the 4th quarter. Regal Investment Advisors LLC now owns 11,567 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $1,459,000 after buying an additional 662 shares during the last quarter. Jump Financial LLC lifted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 77.1% in the 4th quarter. Jump Financial LLC now owns 7,174 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $905,000 after purchasing an additional 3,124 shares during the period. AGP Franklin LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth about $1,799,000. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board increased its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 108.5% in the fourth quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board now owns 8,830 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $1,113,000 after buying an additional 4,595 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Guggenheim Capital LLC raised its position in United Parcel Service by 0.3% during the fourth quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 256,667 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $32,366,000 after acquiring an additional 677 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.26% of the company's stock.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

Shares of UPS traded up $2.14 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $96.34. 4,738,497 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,831,654. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $110.40 and its 200-day simple moving average is $122.74. The stock has a market capitalization of $82.29 billion, a PE ratio of 14.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.10. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 52-week low of $90.55 and a 52-week high of $153.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.14.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates 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 period last year, the firm earned $2.47 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were given a dividend of $1.64 per share. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.81%. This is a boost from United Parcel Service's previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 18th. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 97.04%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UPS has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on United Parcel Service from $156.00 to $153.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Bank of America cut their price objective on United Parcel Service from $133.00 to $129.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price objective on United Parcel Service from $166.00 to $147.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Raymond James lowered their target price on United Parcel Service from $145.00 to $130.00 and set a "strong-buy" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, Baird R W cut shares of United Parcel Service from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $129.70.

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.