Ultrapar Participações (NYSE:UGP) Sees Large Volume Increase - Here's What Happened

Ultrapar Participações S.A. (NYSE:UGP - Get Free Report) shares saw an uptick in trading volume on Monday . 3,368,109 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 126% from the previous session's volume of 1,491,473 shares.The stock last traded at $3.14 and had previously closed at $3.03.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently weighed in on UGP. Scotiabank raised shares of Ultrapar Participações to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, December 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Ultrapar Participações from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Hsbc Global Res raised shares of Ultrapar Participações from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 17th. HSBC raised shares of Ultrapar Participações from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Ultrapar Participações from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and cut their target price for the company from $4.10 to $3.20 in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $3.20.

Ultrapar Participações Stock Performance

The stock's 50 day moving average price is $2.85 and its 200 day moving average price is $3.22. The company has a current ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. The company has a market cap of $3.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.88, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 1.42.

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Ultrapar Participações Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 10th will be paid a dividend of $0.0774 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 3.8%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 10th. Ultrapar Participações's dividend payout ratio is currently 33.33%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of UGP. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV purchased a new stake in shares of Ultrapar Participações during the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Franklin Resources Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Ultrapar Participações during the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. Freedom Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Ultrapar Participações during the 3rd quarter worth about $48,000. Wolverine Trading LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Ultrapar Participações during the 4th quarter worth about $35,000. Finally, Signaturefd LLC grew its holdings in shares of Ultrapar Participações by 23.0% during the 4th quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 19,705 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 3,688 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 3.58% of the company's stock.

Ultrapar Participações Company Profile

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.