Prudential Financial Inc. Grows Stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Prudential Financial Inc. raised its position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 107.7% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 1,361,621 shares of the transportation company's stock after acquiring an additional 705,897 shares during the period. Prudential Financial Inc. owned approximately 0.16% of United Parcel Service worth $171,700,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Syntax Research Inc. raised its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 24.3% in the 4th quarter. Syntax Research Inc. now owns 4,858 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $613,000 after acquiring an additional 949 shares during the last quarter. Mountain Hill Investment Partners Corp. purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter worth approximately $255,000. Crowley Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $1,654,000. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 0.6% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 65,136,394 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $8,213,699,000 after purchasing an additional 370,705 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Community Bank N.A. boosted its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 1.5% during the fourth quarter. Community Bank N.A. now owns 38,061 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $4,799,000 after buying an additional 550 shares during the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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United Parcel Service Stock Performance

Shares of UPS stock traded down $5.79 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $110.01. 10,596,710 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,496,863. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 1 year low of $109.40 and a 1 year high of $157.99. The company has a market capitalization of $93.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.27, a PEG ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.94. 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 firm's 50-day moving average is $119.95 and its 200 day moving average is $126.92.

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

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were given a dividend of $1.64 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 18th. This is a boost from United Parcel Service's previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.96%. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio is currently 97.04%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Wolfe Research upgraded United Parcel Service from a "peer perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $147.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Robert W. Baird downgraded shares of United Parcel Service from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and lowered their target price for the company from $160.00 to $130.00 in a report on Friday, January 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $166.00 to $147.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Bank of America decreased their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $133.00 to $129.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their target price on United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $82.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $137.91.

About United Parcel Service

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.