Ultrapar Participações S.A. (NYSE:UGP) Stock Holdings Boosted by JPMorgan Chase & Co.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its stake in Ultrapar Participações S.A. (NYSE:UGP - Free Report) by 763.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,374,747 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after purchasing an additional 1,215,605 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. owned approximately 0.12% of Ultrapar Participações worth $3,616,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Signaturefd LLC boosted its position in Ultrapar Participações by 23.0% in the 4th quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 19,705 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $52,000 after buying an additional 3,688 shares during the last quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Ultrapar Participações by 38.1% in the fourth quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 20,609 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $54,000 after purchasing an additional 5,687 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. grew its stake in Ultrapar Participações by 27.9% during the 4th quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 31,534 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $83,000 after purchasing an additional 6,882 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC increased its holdings in Ultrapar Participações by 26.0% during the 3rd quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 48,712 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $189,000 after purchasing an additional 10,037 shares during the last quarter. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Ultrapar Participações by 34.0% in the 4th quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 40,871 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $107,000 after purchasing an additional 10,368 shares in the last quarter. 3.58% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently issued reports on UGP shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Ultrapar Participações from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Hsbc Global Res upgraded shares of Ultrapar Participações from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Ultrapar Participações from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $4.10 to $3.20 in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Scotiabank raised Ultrapar Participações to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, December 27th. Finally, HSBC raised Ultrapar Participações from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 17th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Ultrapar Participações currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $3.20.

Ultrapar Participações Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:UGP traded up $0.10 during trading on Thursday, reaching $3.17. 1,308,535 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,631,280. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 1.10. Ultrapar Participações S.A. has a 12 month low of $2.53 and a 12 month high of $5.37. The company has a 50 day moving average of $2.95 and a 200-day moving average of $3.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 1.57 and a quick ratio of 1.11.

Ultrapar Participações Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 10th were given a dividend of $0.0774 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 3.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 10th. Ultrapar Participações's payout ratio is 33.33%.

Ultrapar Participações Company Profile

Ultrapar Participações SA, through its subsidiaries, operates in the energy and infrastructure business in Brazil. The company distributes liquefied petroleum gas to residential, commercial, and industrial consumers, in addition to renewable electricity and compressed natural gas. It also operates in the distribution and marketing of gasoline, ethanol, diesel, fuel oil, kerosene, natural gas for vehicles, and lubricants; and holds AmPm convenience stores and provides JetOil lubricant services.