Certuity LLC Boosts Position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Certuity LLC raised its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 3.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 13,518 shares of the transportation company’s stock after acquiring an additional 431 shares during the period. Certuity LLC’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $1,705,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Beacon Financial Group boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 1.2% in the fourth quarter. Beacon Financial Group now owns 28,059 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $3,538,000 after buying an additional 327 shares during the last quarter. Quent Capital LLC lifted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 16.7% in the fourth quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 558 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $70,000 after acquiring an additional 80 shares during the period. Weatherly Asset Management L. P. boosted its position in United Parcel Service by 18.9% in the 4th quarter. Weatherly Asset Management L. P. now owns 3,117 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $393,000 after purchasing an additional 495 shares in the last quarter. Atlantic Edge Private Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 308.0% during the 4th quarter. Atlantic Edge Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 408 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $51,000 after purchasing an additional 308 shares during the period. Finally, Latitude Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 6.6% during the 4th quarter. Latitude Advisors LLC now owns 1,940 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $245,000 after purchasing an additional 120 shares in the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

United Parcel Service Stock Up 0.3 %

UPS stock opened at $114.49 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $125.55 and a two-hundred day moving average of $129.16. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12 month low of $109.40 and a 12 month high of $158.95. The company has a market cap of $97.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.94, a PEG ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 0.98.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, beating 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 firm earned $2.47 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be issued a dividend of $1.64 per share. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.73%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 18th. This is a positive change from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is currently 96.45%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently issued reports on UPS shares. Loop Capital lowered their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 3rd. BMO Capital Markets raised shares of United Parcel Service from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $155.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. Evercore ISI raised their target price on United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Raymond James reduced their price target on United Parcel Service from $155.00 to $145.00 and set a “strong-buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Bank of America dropped their price objective on United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $133.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $140.73.

Insider Activity

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

United Parcel Service Company 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.