United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) Shares Acquired by Handelsbanken Fonder AB

Handelsbanken Fonder AB lifted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 7.7% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 303,181 shares of the transportation company's stock after acquiring an additional 21,688 shares during the quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB's holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $38,231,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. True Wealth Design LLC increased its holdings in United Parcel Service by 397.7% during the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 214 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 171 shares during the period. IFS Advisors LLC increased its holdings in United Parcel Service by 232.3% during the fourth quarter. IFS Advisors LLC now owns 216 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 151 shares during the period. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in United Parcel Service by 720.0% during the third quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 246 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 216 shares during the period. PSI Advisors LLC increased its holdings in United Parcel Service by 408.2% during the third quarter. PSI Advisors LLC now owns 249 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the period. Finally, FSA Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in United Parcel Service during the third quarter valued at approximately $36,000. 60.26% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $128.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Bank of America cut their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $133.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $135.00 to $120.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Robert W. Baird downgraded United Parcel Service from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $160.00 to $130.00 in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Baird R W downgraded United Parcel Service from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $140.73.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

United Parcel Service stock traded down $0.25 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $116.35. 6,455,199 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,796,271. The firm has a market capitalization of $99.38 billion, a PE ratio of 17.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.98. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $109.40 and a fifty-two week high of $158.95. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $123.21 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $128.33. 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 posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 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 quarter last year, the business earned $2.47 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast 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 announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be issued a dividend of $1.64 per share. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.64%. This is a positive change from United Parcel Service's previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 18th. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 97.04%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other United Parcel Service news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total transaction of $1,015,025.25. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 45,098 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,249,229.86. This represents a 13.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.13% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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.