United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) Shares Sold by Shepherd Financial Partners LLC

Shepherd Financial Partners LLC lessened its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 19.7% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,893 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 708 shares during the quarter. Shepherd Financial Partners LLC’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $365,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. AMF Tjanstepension AB lifted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 39.7% in the 3rd quarter. AMF Tjanstepension AB now owns 108,360 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $14,793,000 after purchasing an additional 30,815 shares in the last quarter. CWM LLC grew its position in United Parcel Service by 1.6% in the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 85,536 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $11,662,000 after acquiring an additional 1,378 shares in the last quarter. Wedmont Private Capital raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 16.3% during the third quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 2,407 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $316,000 after purchasing an additional 338 shares during the period. Perpetual Ltd boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 12.7% in the third quarter. Perpetual Ltd now owns 16,602 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $2,264,000 after purchasing an additional 1,873 shares during the period. Finally, Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. grew its holdings in United Parcel Service by 8.9% during the 3rd quarter. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. now owns 1,830 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $250,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

NYSE UPS opened at $113.20 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $96.60 billion, a PE ratio of 16.75, a P/E/G ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 0.98. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $126.40 and a 200 day simple moving average of $129.46. 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, Inc. has a twelve month low of $109.40 and a twelve month high of $158.95.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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 in the prior year, the business earned $2.47 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.99 EPS for the current year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The company 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. 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. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.80%. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 96.45%.

Insider Activity at United Parcel Service

In other United Parcel Service news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the firm’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 transaction, the insider now owns 45,098 shares in the company, valued at $6,249,229.86. This trade represents a 13.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UPS has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Bank of America decreased their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $133.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Barclays restated an “underweight” rating and set a $120.00 price objective on shares of United Parcel Service in a report on Monday, October 21st. 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 for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Argus raised shares of United Parcel Service from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $135.00 to $120.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $140.73.

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.