Ultrapar Participações (NYSE:UGP) Raised to Buy at The Goldman Sachs Group

The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Ultrapar Participações (NYSE:UGP - Free Report) from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report report published on Friday, Marketbeat reports. They currently have $3.20 price target on the oil and gas company's stock, down from their prior price target of $4.10.

Several other equities analysts have also commented on UGP. Hsbc Global Res upgraded shares of Ultrapar Participações from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 17th. HSBC upgraded Ultrapar Participações from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Scotiabank raised Ultrapar Participações to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, December 27th. StockNews.com downgraded Ultrapar Participações from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Ultrapar Participações from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Ultrapar Participações presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $3.20.

Ultrapar Participações Trading Down 0.9 %

Shares of UGP stock traded down $0.03 during trading on Friday, hitting $2.88. 606,422 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,319,567. Ultrapar Participações has a 52-week low of $2.53 and a 52-week high of $6.34. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $2.78 and its 200-day moving average price is $3.50. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 1.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 1.57 and a quick ratio of 1.11.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ultrapar Participações

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Bleakley Financial Group LLC grew its position in shares of Ultrapar Participações by 33.0% during the fourth quarter. Bleakley Financial Group LLC now owns 86,850 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $228,000 after buying an additional 21,555 shares in the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. grew its holdings in Ultrapar Participações by 72.4% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 57,100 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $150,000 after acquiring an additional 23,976 shares in the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Ultrapar Participações in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $374,000. Hennessy Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of Ultrapar Participações by 6.8% in the 4th quarter. Hennessy Advisors Inc. now owns 1,811,400 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $4,764,000 after purchasing an additional 115,600 shares during the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in shares of Ultrapar Participações by 194.7% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 159,142 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $617,000 after purchasing an additional 105,133 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other 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.