United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) Stock Holdings Reduced by Epoch Investment Partners Inc.

Epoch Investment Partners Inc. lowered its holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 5.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 565,952 shares of the transportation company's stock after selling 30,462 shares during the period. Epoch Investment Partners Inc. owned approximately 0.07% of United Parcel Service worth $71,367,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in UPS. IMG Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter valued at about $25,000. Generali Investments Management Co LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. IFS Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 232.3% in the fourth quarter. IFS Advisors LLC now owns 216 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares during the period. Runnymede Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Whipplewood Advisors LLC purchased a new position in United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter valued at about $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.26% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Citigroup lowered their price objective on United Parcel Service from $149.00 to $123.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Evercore ISI upped their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the company an "in-line" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 7th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on United Parcel Service from $128.00 to $120.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Finally, Wolfe Research reduced their price objective on United Parcel Service from $133.00 to $113.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $129.70.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

Shares of UPS traded down $0.16 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $96.27. 3,928,807 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,826,903. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a one year low of $90.55 and a one year high of $153.42. The company has a market capitalization of $82.23 billion, a PE ratio of 14.24, a PEG ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.14. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $110.40 and a 200-day simple moving average of $122.61.

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 the consensus estimate 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 in the prior year, the company earned $2.47 EPS. As a group, sell-side 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 disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were given a dividend of $1.64 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 18th. This is a positive change from United Parcel Service's previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.81%. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio (DPR) 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.