Ultrapar Participações S.A. (NYSE:UGP) Sees Large Increase in Short Interest

Ultrapar Participações S.A. (NYSE:UGP - Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 7,470,000 shares, an increase of 36.3% from the December 31st total of 5,480,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 2,190,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.4 days.

Ultrapar Participações Stock Down 3.0 %

UGP stock traded down $0.09 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $2.80. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,326,067 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,363,401. Ultrapar Participações has a 52-week low of $2.53 and a 52-week high of $6.34. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $2.77 and a 200-day simple moving average of $3.49. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.08, a PEG ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 1.52.

Institutional Trading of Ultrapar Participações

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UGP. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Ultrapar Participações during the 3rd quarter worth $46,000. Freedom Investment Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Ultrapar Participações during the 3rd quarter worth about $48,000. Signaturefd LLC raised its position in shares of Ultrapar Participações by 67.9% during the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 16,017 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $62,000 after acquiring an additional 6,476 shares in the last quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in Ultrapar Participações by 38.1% during the fourth quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 20,609 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $54,000 after purchasing an additional 5,687 shares during the last quarter. Finally, PDS Planning Inc raised its holdings in Ultrapar Participações by 90.2% during the third quarter. PDS Planning Inc now owns 21,408 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $83,000 after purchasing an additional 10,153 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 3.58% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

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

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.