Washington Trust Advisors Inc. Sells 4,888 Shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Washington Trust Advisors Inc. reduced its stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 4.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 98,435 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 4,888 shares during the quarter. United Parcel Service accounts for 1.0% of Washington Trust Advisors Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest position. Washington Trust Advisors Inc.’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $12,413,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in UPS. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 5.7% in the 3rd quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 62,953 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $8,583,000 after buying an additional 3,416 shares during the last quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 22.4% in the 3rd quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 335,306 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $45,716,000 after buying an additional 61,360 shares during the last quarter. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in United Parcel Service in the 3rd quarter valued at $148,000. Balentine LLC acquired a new stake in United Parcel Service in the 3rd quarter valued at $337,000. Finally, Beacon Financial Advisory LLC increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 37.9% in the 3rd quarter. Beacon Financial Advisory LLC now owns 14,408 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $1,964,000 after buying an additional 3,960 shares during the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

NYSE UPS opened at $119.10 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. The company has a market capitalization of $101.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.62, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.98. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12-month low of $109.40 and a 12-month high of $158.95. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $121.94 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $127.88.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates 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 in the prior year, the company posted $2.47 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate 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 disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be issued a $1.64 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 18th. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.51%. This is an increase from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is currently 97.04%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have issued reports on UPS. Baird R W lowered shares of United Parcel Service from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Bank of America lowered their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $133.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Citigroup lowered their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $158.00 to $149.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Wolfe Research upgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a “peer perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $147.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $140.73.

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.