Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC Acquires 6,603 Shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC boosted its holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 49.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 20,005 shares of the transportation company's stock after purchasing an additional 6,603 shares during the quarter. Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC's holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $2,523,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of UPS. IFS Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 232.3% during the 4th quarter. IFS Advisors LLC now owns 216 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 151 shares during the last quarter. True Wealth Design LLC boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 397.7% during the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 214 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 171 shares in the last quarter. PSI Advisors LLC raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 408.2% in the third quarter. PSI Advisors LLC now owns 249 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC raised its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 720.0% in the 3rd quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 246 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 216 shares in the last quarter. Finally, FSA Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the third quarter valued at about $36,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.26% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total transaction of $1,015,025.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 45,098 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,249,229.86. This represents a 13.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.13% of the company's stock.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UPS traded down $18.84 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $114.94. 41,110,148 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,311,740. The firm has a market cap of $98.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.36, a PEG ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 1.14. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $129.05 and its 200-day moving average price is $130.72. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a twelve month low of $109.62 and a twelve month high of $158.95.

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 (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.52 by $0.23. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 37.38% and a net margin of 6.25%. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.47 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.49 EPS for the current year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 18th were paid a $1.63 dividend. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 18th. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 98.49%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UPS has been the subject of several recent research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price target on United Parcel Service from $165.00 to $162.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $156.00 to $153.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Argus raised shares of United Parcel Service from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Bank of America upgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $150.00 price target for the company in a report on Thursday, January 16th. Finally, Susquehanna boosted their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $151.24.

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.