Jones Financial Companies Lllp Purchases 94,237 Shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Jones Financial Companies Lllp grew its position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 88.2% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 201,030 shares of the transportation company's stock after purchasing an additional 94,237 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllp's holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $25,350,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. IFS Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 232.3% during the 4th quarter. IFS Advisors LLC now owns 216 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 151 shares in the last quarter. True Wealth Design LLC raised its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 397.7% in 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 last quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 720.0% in the 3rd quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 246 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 216 shares during the last quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter worth $34,000. Finally, FSA Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.26% of the company's stock.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

UPS stock traded up $2.31 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $119.10. The stock had a trading volume of 6,811,272 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,410,221. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $109.40 and a fifty-two week high of $158.95. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $122.09 and a 200 day simple moving average of $127.94. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $101.73 billion, a PE ratio of 17.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.98.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, beating 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 prior year, the business posted $2.47 earnings per share. Analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal 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 issued a $1.64 dividend. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.51%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 18th. This is a positive change from United Parcel Service's previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 97.04%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on UPS shares. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the company an "in-line" rating in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company lowered 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 research report on Friday, January 31st. Loop Capital dropped their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $166.00 to $147.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Raymond James dropped 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 report on Friday, January 31st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $140.73.

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.