Geode Capital Management LLC Increases Stock Position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 2.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 15,704,334 shares of the transportation company's stock after purchasing an additional 414,710 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC owned about 1.84% of United Parcel Service worth $1,979,695,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UPS. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter valued at $1,075,393,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter worth about $393,680,000. Two Sigma Advisers LP lifted its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 833.4% during the third quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 2,074,100 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $282,783,000 after purchasing an additional 1,851,900 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 15.6% in the fourth quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 10,979,909 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $1,384,567,000 after purchasing an additional 1,484,452 shares during the period. Finally, Van ECK Associates Corp increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 77.7% during the 4th quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 3,150,901 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $397,329,000 after buying an additional 1,378,136 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.26% of the company's stock.

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United Parcel Service Stock Performance

Shares of UPS stock traded down $10.00 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $100.20. 8,246,211 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,685,857. 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 company's 50 day moving average is $117.20 and its two-hundred day moving average is $126.04. The company has a market cap of $85.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.94. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 1 year low of $100.02 and a 1 year high of $154.29.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 business earned $2.47 earnings per share. Equities research 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 announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were issued a $1.64 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 18th. This is a boost from United Parcel Service's previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.55%. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 97.04%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have commented on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price target on shares of 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. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on United Parcel Service in a report on Friday, March 7th. They set a "hold" rating and a $119.00 price target on the stock. Barclays lowered their price objective on United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $90.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday. StockNews.com raised shares of United Parcel Service from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $155.00 to $150.00 in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, United Parcel Service presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $135.22.

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.