Tufton Capital Management Buys 4,014 Shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Tufton Capital Management raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 7.3% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 58,851 shares of the transportation company’s stock after purchasing an additional 4,014 shares during the period. United Parcel Service makes up 1.4% of Tufton Capital Management’s portfolio, making the stock its 28th biggest position. Tufton Capital Management’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $7,421,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of UPS. Fortress Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter worth approximately $633,000. Argyle Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 11.4% in the 4th quarter. Argyle Capital Management LLC now owns 26,428 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $3,333,000 after acquiring an additional 2,695 shares during the last quarter. Fort Sheridan Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter worth approximately $206,000. Linscomb Wealth Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 3.0% in the 4th quarter. Linscomb Wealth Inc. now owns 49,509 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $6,243,000 after acquiring an additional 1,447 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Proficio Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,584,000. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on UPS shares. Bank of America lowered 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 report 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 report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $156.00 to $153.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Baird R W lowered shares of United Parcel Service from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, UBS Group lowered their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $170.00 to $141.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $140.73.

United Parcel Service Stock Up 0.6 %

NYSE:UPS opened at $117.61 on Friday. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $122.54 and its 200-day moving average price is $128.11. The company has a market capitalization of $100.46 billion, a PE ratio of 17.40, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.98. 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.

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, topping 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 firm posted $2.47 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed 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 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.58%. This is an increase from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 18th. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is 97.04%.

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.