Pictet Asset Management Holding SA Purchases 55,650 Shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Pictet Asset Management Holding SA raised its position in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 15.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 426,393 shares of the transportation company's stock after buying an additional 55,650 shares during the quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA's holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $53,768,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UPS. Public Sector Pension Investment Board lifted its stake in United Parcel Service by 14.5% during the third quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 32,289 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $4,402,000 after buying an additional 4,100 shares in the last quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. grew its stake in United Parcel Service by 4.6% during the third quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 313,539 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $42,754,000 after buying an additional 13,924 shares during the last quarter. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in United Parcel Service by 69.0% during the 3rd quarter. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 19,068 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $2,591,000 after buying an additional 7,786 shares in the last quarter. White Knight Strategic Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 132.0% in the 3rd quarter. White Knight Strategic Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 4,732 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $645,000 after purchasing an additional 2,692 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ironwood Investment Counsel LLC grew its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 3.0% during the third quarter. Ironwood Investment Counsel LLC now owns 41,922 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $5,716,000 after purchasing an additional 1,236 shares during the period. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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United Parcel Service Price Performance

United Parcel Service stock traded down $1.37 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $108.62. 3,881,785 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,346,007. The company has a market capitalization of $92.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.06, a PEG ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.14. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12-month low of $108.18 and a 12-month high of $154.29. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $118.12 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $126.27.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.52 by $0.23. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.35% and a return on equity of 39.13%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.47 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were issued a dividend of $1.64 per share. This is an increase from United Parcel Service's previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 18th. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.04%. United Parcel Service's payout ratio is currently 97.04%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UPS has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Barclays lowered their price target on United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $90.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $82.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Baird R W lowered shares of United Parcel Service from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their target price on United Parcel Service from $166.00 to $147.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised United Parcel Service from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $155.00 to $150.00 in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $135.83.

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.