Baillie Gifford & Co. Sells 62,429 Shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Baillie Gifford & Co. trimmed its position in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 9.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 593,605 shares of the transportation company's stock after selling 62,429 shares during the period. Baillie Gifford & Co. owned about 0.07% of United Parcel Service worth $74,854,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its position in United Parcel Service by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 829,280 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $113,064,000 after acquiring an additional 33,989 shares during the last quarter. Onyx Bridge Wealth Group LLC bought a new position in United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth approximately $461,000. Synovus Financial Corp grew its position in United Parcel Service by 8.6% during the 3rd quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 87,531 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $11,934,000 after acquiring an additional 6,941 shares during the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp grew its position in United Parcel Service by 1,061.1% during the 3rd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 1,772,765 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $232,959,000 after acquiring an additional 1,620,091 shares during the last quarter. Finally, HF Advisory Group LLC bought a new position in United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,305,000. 60.26% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

United Parcel Service Stock Down 0.2 %

NYSE:UPS traded down $0.25 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $116.35. 6,455,199 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,637,967. The business's 50-day moving average price is $123.21 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $128.33. The stock has a market capitalization of $99.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.21, a P/E/G ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.98. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 1 year low of $109.40 and a 1 year high of $158.95. The company has a current ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.52 by $0.23. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 39.13% and a net margin of 6.35%. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.47 earnings per share. Analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be paid a $1.64 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 18th. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.64%. This is a boost from United Parcel Service's previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. United Parcel Service's payout ratio is currently 97.04%.

Insider Transactions at United Parcel Service

In other news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total value of $1,015,025.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 45,098 shares in the company, valued at $6,249,229.86. The trade was a 13.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Company insiders own 0.13% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Robert W. Baird lowered United Parcel Service from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $160.00 to $130.00 in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Susquehanna reduced their price target on United Parcel Service from $140.00 to $130.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $82.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Bank of America cut their price objective on United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $133.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Wolfe Research upgraded United Parcel Service from a "peer perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $147.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $140.73.

United Parcel Service Profile

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.