Investment Advisory Services Inc. TX ADV Grows Stock Holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Investment Advisory Services Inc. TX ADV lifted its holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 21.4% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,204 shares of the transportation company’s stock after buying an additional 389 shares during the period. Investment Advisory Services Inc. TX ADV’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $278,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. WCM Investment Management LLC lifted its position in United Parcel Service by 239.1% in the fourth quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 37,632 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $4,716,000 after buying an additional 26,534 shares during the last quarter. Entropy Technologies LP raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 26.7% in the fourth quarter. Entropy Technologies LP now owns 27,326 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $3,446,000 after acquiring an additional 5,752 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC lifted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 71.8% in the 4th quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 129,683 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $16,353,000 after acquiring an additional 54,182 shares during the last quarter. Hendershot Investments Inc. boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 9.9% during the 4th quarter. Hendershot Investments Inc. now owns 73,046 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $9,211,000 after purchasing an additional 6,610 shares during the period. Finally, Apollon Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in United Parcel Service by 160.6% during the 4th quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC now owns 48,572 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $6,125,000 after purchasing an additional 29,934 shares during the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have issued reports on UPS shares. Loop Capital dropped their target price on United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $128.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. BMO Capital Markets raised United Parcel Service from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and cut their price objective for the company from $155.00 to $150.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Citigroup decreased their target price on United Parcel Service from $158.00 to $149.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Raymond James cut their price target 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. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, United Parcel Service presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $140.73.

Insider Buying and Selling at United Parcel Service

In other United Parcel Service news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total transaction of $1,015,025.25. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 45,098 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,249,229.86. This trade represents a 13.97 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

UPS opened at $113.20 on Friday. The business’s 50-day moving average is $125.95 and its two-hundred day moving average is $129.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.14. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 1 year low of $109.40 and a 1 year high of $158.95. The firm has a market capitalization of $96.60 billion, a PE ratio of 16.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 0.98.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last announced 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 return on equity of 39.13% and a net margin of 6.35%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.47 EPS. Research analysts anticipate 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 disclosed 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. The ex-dividend date is 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 dividend yield of 5.80%. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is 96.45%.

United Parcel Service 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.