Sylvest Advisors LLC Invests $470,000 in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Sylvest Advisors LLC purchased a new position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 3,727 shares of the transportation company's stock, valued at approximately $470,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. AMF Tjanstepension AB grew its stake in United Parcel Service by 39.7% in the third quarter. AMF Tjanstepension AB now owns 108,360 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $14,793,000 after purchasing an additional 30,815 shares in the last quarter. Czech National Bank increased its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 7.4% during the third quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 149,220 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $20,345,000 after buying an additional 10,227 shares during the period. HBW Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 17.7% in the third quarter. HBW Advisory Services LLC now owns 1,996 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $272,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Biltmore Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in United Parcel Service by 46.4% in the third quarter. Biltmore Wealth Management LLC now owns 5,463 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $745,000 after acquiring an additional 1,732 shares during the period. Finally, Central Valley Advisors LLC bought a new position in United Parcel Service during the 3rd quarter worth about $446,000. Institutional investors own 60.26% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the business'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 transaction of $1,015,025.25. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 45,098 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,249,229.86. The trade was a 13.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.13% of the company's stock.

United Parcel Service Trading Down 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE:UPS opened at $114.19 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $97.45 billion, a PE ratio of 17.25, a PEG ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 1.00. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12-month low of $109.62 and a 12-month high of $158.95. The business has a 50 day moving average of $128.31 and a two-hundred day moving average of $130.40. The company has a current ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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 net margin of 6.25% and a return on equity of 37.38%. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.47 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.5 EPS for the current year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 18th were paid a dividend of $1.63 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 18th. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.71%. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio is currently 98.49%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently commented on UPS. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $156.00 to $153.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $82.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a report on Friday. UBS Group cut their price target on United Parcel Service from $170.00 to $141.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Argus upgraded United Parcel Service from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Evercore ISI lifted their target price on United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the company an "in-line" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $141.95.

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.

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