Sand Hill Global Advisors LLC Has $4.09 Million Stock Holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Sand Hill Global Advisors LLC reduced its stake in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 13.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 32,396 shares of the transportation company's stock after selling 5,015 shares during the period. Sand Hill Global Advisors LLC's holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $4,085,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of UPS. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 69.0% in the 3rd quarter. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 19,068 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $2,591,000 after acquiring an additional 7,786 shares in the last quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 85.3% during the 3rd quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 34,272 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $4,673,000 after buying an additional 15,779 shares during the period. EP Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in United Parcel Service by 20.2% in the 3rd quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 32,376 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $4,414,000 after buying an additional 5,433 shares during the last quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its stake in United Parcel Service by 4.9% in the 3rd quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 443,453 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $60,460,000 after buying an additional 20,527 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Groupama Asset Managment lifted its position in United Parcel Service by 1.4% during the 3rd quarter. Groupama Asset Managment now owns 19,695 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $2,685,000 after acquiring an additional 268 shares during the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

United Parcel Service Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of United Parcel Service stock traded up $0.39 during trading on Friday, hitting $96.95. 5,542,916 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,808,906. 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 market capitalization of $82.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.10. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $112.11 and its 200 day moving average price is $123.97. 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 posted 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 last year, the firm earned $2.47 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed 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 an increase from United Parcel Service's previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 18th. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.77%. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio is currently 97.04%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UPS has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective 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. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $82.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Barclays cut their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $90.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, March 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $166.00 to $147.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Robert W. Baird cut shares of United Parcel Service from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and reduced their target price for the company from $160.00 to $130.00 in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $131.32.

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.