D.A. Davidson & CO. Has $27.05 Million Stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

D.A. Davidson & CO. lifted its holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 5.4% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 214,533 shares of the transportation company’s stock after buying an additional 11,054 shares during the quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO.’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $27,053,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. AMF Tjanstepension AB grew its holdings in United Parcel Service by 39.7% during the 3rd quarter. AMF Tjanstepension AB now owns 108,360 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $14,793,000 after acquiring an additional 30,815 shares during the period. Creative Planning increased its holdings in United Parcel Service by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 245,539 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $33,412,000 after purchasing an additional 8,320 shares in the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. raised its position in United Parcel Service by 23.2% in the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 8,761 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $1,199,000 after buying an additional 1,652 shares during the last quarter. Vest Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the third quarter valued at approximately $527,000. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its position in United Parcel Service by 40.2% during the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 103,515 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $14,113,000 after buying an additional 29,657 shares in the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UPS opened at $116.37 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $99.31 billion, a PE ratio of 17.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 0.98. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 52 week low of $109.40 and a 52 week high of $158.95. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $124.53 and its 200-day moving average is $128.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.17.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share 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 quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.47 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.99 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be given a dividend of $1.64 per share. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.64%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 18th. This is an increase from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is presently 96.45%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on UPS. Evercore ISI upped their price objective on 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. Loop Capital reduced their price objective on United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Susquehanna decreased their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $140.00 to $130.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Robert W. Baird lowered United Parcel Service from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $160.00 to $130.00 in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Raymond James dropped their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $155.00 to $145.00 and set a “strong-buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, United Parcel Service has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $140.73.

Insider Transactions at United Parcel Service

In other news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated 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 directly owns 45,098 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,249,229.86. The trade was a 13.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 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.