Natixis Advisors LLC Sells 8,563 Shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Natixis Advisors LLC reduced its position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 3.4% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 240,967 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 8,563 shares during the quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $30,386,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 69.9% in the fourth quarter. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC now owns 29,412 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $3,709,000 after buying an additional 12,098 shares in the last quarter. Catalyst Funds Management Pty Ltd purchased a new position in shares of United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter worth $605,000. Brandes Investment Partners LP purchased a new position in shares of United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter worth $846,000. Greatmark Investment Partners Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of 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 in the last quarter. Finally, Associated Banc Corp lifted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 12.6% in the fourth quarter. Associated Banc Corp now owns 73,170 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $9,227,000 after buying an additional 8,209 shares in the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

United Parcel Service Trading Up 1.4 %

NYSE UPS opened at $116.90 on Monday. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $120.91 and its 200-day moving average price is $127.38. 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 stock has a market cap of $99.85 billion, a PE ratio of 17.29, a PEG ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.94. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12 month low of $109.40 and a 12 month high of $158.95.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last issued its 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 quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.47 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast 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 announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were issued a dividend of $1.64 per share. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend 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 was Tuesday, February 18th. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is presently 97.04%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently commented on UPS shares. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $128.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Raymond James lowered their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $155.00 to $145.00 and set a “strong-buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. StockNews.com raised shares of United Parcel Service from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of United Parcel Service in a research note on Friday, March 7th. They set a “hold” rating and a $119.00 price target on the stock. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $166.00 to $147.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $138.09.

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.