Ultrapar Participações S.A. (NYSE:UGP) Stake Lifted by Marshall Wace LLP

Marshall Wace LLP boosted its stake in Ultrapar Participações S.A. (NYSE:UGP - Free Report) by 18.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 2,821,125 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after buying an additional 444,724 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP owned 0.25% of Ultrapar Participações worth $7,420,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Franklin Resources Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Ultrapar Participações in the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. Signaturefd LLC increased its stake in shares of Ultrapar Participações by 23.0% in the fourth quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 19,705 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $52,000 after purchasing an additional 3,688 shares during the period. QRG Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of 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 valued at $54,000 after buying an additional 5,687 shares during the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Ultrapar Participações by 49.6% during the fourth quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 27,813 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $73,000 after buying an additional 9,220 shares during the period. Finally, Sei Investments Co. grew its holdings in Ultrapar Participações by 27.9% in the 4th quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 31,534 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $83,000 after buying an additional 6,882 shares in the last quarter. 3.58% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Ultrapar Participações Price Performance

Shares of Ultrapar Participações stock opened at $3.00 on Wednesday. Ultrapar Participações S.A. has a 52 week low of $2.53 and a 52 week high of $5.37. 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's 50-day moving average price is $2.95 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $3.04. The stock has a market cap of $3.34 billion, a PE ratio of 6.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 1.10.

Ultrapar Participações Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 24th. Investors of record on Monday, March 10th were paid a dividend of $0.0774 per share. This represents a yield of 3.8%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 10th. Ultrapar Participações's dividend payout ratio is presently 33.33%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UGP has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Ultrapar Participações from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $4.10 to $3.20 in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Hsbc Global Res upgraded shares of Ultrapar Participações from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Scotiabank raised shares of Ultrapar Participações to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, December 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Ultrapar Participações from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, HSBC upgraded shares of Ultrapar Participações from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Two 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's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Ultrapar Participações has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $3.20.

Ultrapar Participações 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.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate reporting. This story was reviewed by MarketBeat's editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.