Zacks Investment Management Boosts Stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Zacks Investment Management increased its holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 29.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 252,117 shares of the transportation company's stock after purchasing an additional 57,543 shares during the period. Zacks Investment Management's holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $31,792,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in UPS. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in United Parcel Service by 0.6% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 65,136,394 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $8,213,699,000 after purchasing an additional 370,705 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in United Parcel Service by 6.1% during the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 23,264,665 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $2,933,674,000 after buying an additional 1,337,058 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in United Parcel Service by 2.7% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 15,704,334 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $1,979,695,000 after buying an additional 414,710 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its position in United Parcel Service by 15.6% during the fourth quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 10,979,909 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $1,384,567,000 after acquiring an additional 1,484,452 shares during the last quarter. Finally, FMR LLC raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 2.5% in the fourth quarter. FMR LLC now owns 10,895,828 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $1,373,964,000 after acquiring an additional 268,278 shares during the period. 60.26% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently commented on UPS shares. Citigroup cut their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $149.00 to $123.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Robert W. Baird lowered United Parcel Service from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and lowered their price target for the company from $160.00 to $130.00 in a report on Friday, January 31st. Raymond James lowered their target price on United Parcel Service from $145.00 to $130.00 and set a "strong-buy" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. Wolfe Research decreased their price objective on United Parcel Service from $133.00 to $113.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, UBS Group cut their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $127.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 3rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $129.70.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UPS traded up $2.14 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $96.34. The company's stock had a trading volume of 4,738,497 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,831,654. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $110.40 and a two-hundred day moving average of $122.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.17. The stock has a market capitalization of $82.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.25, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.10. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 1-year low of $90.55 and a 1-year high of $153.42.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results 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 6.35% and a return on equity of 39.13%. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.47 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were given a dividend of $1.64 per share. This is a boost from United Parcel Service's previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 18th. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.81%. United Parcel Service's payout ratio is presently 97.04%.

About United Parcel Service

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.