Kestra Investment Management LLC Grows Position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Kestra Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 36.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 9,560 shares of the transportation company's stock after buying an additional 2,534 shares during the quarter. Kestra Investment Management LLC's holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $1,206,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 4.3% during the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 829,280 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $113,064,000 after purchasing an additional 33,989 shares during the period. Onyx Bridge Wealth Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at $461,000. Synovus Financial Corp boosted its stake 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 valued at $11,934,000 after purchasing an additional 6,941 shares during the period. Van ECK Associates Corp boosted its stake in shares of 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 during the period. Finally, HF Advisory Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at $1,305,000. 60.26% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $166.00 to $147.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Oppenheimer boosted their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $140.00 to $146.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, October 28th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price objective on United Parcel Service from $156.00 to $153.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. UBS Group decreased their price objective on United Parcel Service from $170.00 to $141.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Evercore ISI lifted their price objective 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. Two equities research 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. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $140.73.

Insider Activity at United Parcel Service

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

United Parcel Service Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of UPS stock traded down $0.25 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $116.35. 6,455,199 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,637,967. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 1 year low of $109.40 and a 1 year high of $158.95. The stock has a market cap of $99.29 billion, a PE ratio of 17.21, a PEG ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.98. The company has a current ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $123.21 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $128.33.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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 last year, the business earned $2.47 EPS. Research analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be given a $1.64 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 18th. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.64%. This is a positive change from United Parcel Service's previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio is currently 97.04%.

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.