Catalyst Funds Management Pty Ltd Invests $605,000 in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Catalyst Funds Management Pty Ltd purchased a new position in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 4,800 shares of the transportation company’s stock, valued at approximately $605,000.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Brandes Investment Partners LP purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth about $846,000. Greatmark Investment Partners Inc. increased its holdings in United Parcel Service by 4.7% in the fourth quarter. Greatmark Investment Partners Inc. now owns 107,406 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $13,544,000 after buying an additional 4,795 shares during the last quarter. Associated Banc Corp raised its position in United Parcel Service by 12.6% during the fourth quarter. Associated Banc Corp now owns 73,170 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $9,227,000 after acquiring an additional 8,209 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Shields & Co. LLC lifted its stake in United Parcel Service by 22.3% in the fourth quarter. Wellington Shields & Co. LLC now owns 5,485 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $692,000 after acquiring an additional 1,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Intact Investment Management Inc. grew its position in United Parcel Service by 3.8% in the fourth quarter. Intact Investment Management Inc. now owns 106,400 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $13,417,000 after acquiring an additional 3,890 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on UPS shares. Stifel Nicolaus cut 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 report on Thursday, January 23rd. Evercore ISI boosted their price target on United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Loop Capital lowered their price objective on United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Bank of America reduced their target price on United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $133.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Baird R W downgraded United Parcel Service from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, United Parcel Service has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $138.09.

United Parcel Service Trading Up 1.4 %

Shares of UPS stock opened at $116.90 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.17. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $120.91 and a 200-day moving average of $127.38. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 52-week low of $109.40 and a 52-week high of $158.95. The stock has a market cap of $99.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.29, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.94.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) 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 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast 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 declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were given a $1.64 dividend. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.61%. This is a boost from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 18th. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is 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.