Kera Capital Partners Inc. Invests $3.22 Million in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Kera Capital Partners Inc. purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 25,563 shares of the transportation company's stock, valued at approximately $3,223,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UPS. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its stake in United Parcel Service by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 829,280 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $113,064,000 after acquiring an additional 33,989 shares in the last quarter. Synovus Financial Corp boosted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 8.6% during the third quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 87,531 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $11,934,000 after purchasing an additional 6,941 shares during the period. Van ECK Associates Corp grew its position in United Parcel Service by 1,061.1% during the third quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 1,772,765 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $232,959,000 after purchasing an additional 1,620,091 shares in the last quarter. Cohen Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 26.4% in the 3rd quarter. Cohen Investment Advisors LLC now owns 18,357 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $2,503,000 after buying an additional 3,835 shares during the period. Finally, Rovin Capital UT ADV lifted its position in United Parcel Service by 85.7% in the 4th quarter. Rovin Capital UT ADV now owns 4,757 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $600,000 after buying an additional 2,195 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.26% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at United Parcel Service

In related news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total value of $1,015,025.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 45,098 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,249,229.86. This represents a 13.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

UPS stock traded down $0.17 on Friday, reaching $129.77. 4,260,034 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,680,905. The firm has a market capitalization of $110.74 billion, a PE ratio of 19.60, a PEG ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 1.00. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12 month low of $121.56 and a 12 month high of $161.35. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $128.95 and its 200 day moving average price is $130.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 1.14.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The transportation company reported $1.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.63 by $0.13. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.25% and a return on equity of 37.38%. The company had revenue of $22.20 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.10 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.57 EPS. The business's revenue was up 5.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.49 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 18th were given a dividend of $1.63 per share. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.02%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 18th. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio is presently 98.49%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UPS has been the topic of several research analyst reports. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $159.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. Argus upgraded United Parcel Service from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Bank of America raised United Parcel Service from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $150.00 price target for the company in a research note on Thursday. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $165.00 to $162.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $151.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $151.10.

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.