Ultrapar Participações (NYSE:UGP) Upgraded to "Buy" at StockNews.com

Ultrapar Participações (NYSE:UGP - Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities researchers at StockNews.com from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report released on Wednesday.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price target on Ultrapar Participações from $5.90 to $5.20 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, July 23rd. Hsbc Global Res raised shares of Ultrapar Participações from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, July 19th. Finally, HSBC raised shares of Ultrapar Participações from a "reduce" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, July 19th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Ultrapar Participações has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $5.20.

Ultrapar Participações Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UGP traded down $0.04 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $3.55. 1,448,984 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,324,831. The company has a quick ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. Ultrapar Participações has a 52 week low of $3.51 and a 52 week high of $6.34. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.96 billion, a PE ratio of 7.40, a PEG ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 1.60. The company's 50 day moving average is $4.00 and its two-hundred day moving average is $4.32.

Ultrapar Participações (NYSE:UGP - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 7th. The oil and gas company reported $0.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts' consensus estimates of $0.08. The firm had revenue of $6.21 billion for the quarter. Ultrapar Participações had a net margin of 2.21% and a return on equity of 20.24%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Ultrapar Participações will post 0.34 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Ultrapar Participações

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Ultrapar Participações in the 3rd quarter valued at about $46,000. Cutter & CO Brokerage Inc. acquired a new stake in Ultrapar Participações during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $57,000. D Orazio & Associates Inc. raised its holdings in Ultrapar Participações by 30.3% during the 2nd quarter. D Orazio & Associates Inc. now owns 15,046 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $59,000 after purchasing an additional 3,498 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Ultrapar Participações by 567.5% in the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 15,833 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $62,000 after purchasing an additional 13,461 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Signaturefd LLC boosted its position in Ultrapar Participações by 67.9% during the third quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 16,017 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $62,000 after acquiring an additional 6,476 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 3.58% of the company's stock.

About Ultrapar Participações

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.