Zacks Investment Management Has $31.79 Million Stock Holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Zacks Investment Management raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 29.6% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 252,117 shares of the transportation company’s stock after purchasing an additional 57,543 shares during the quarter. Zacks Investment Management’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $31,792,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Diamant Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter. Diamant Asset Management Inc. now owns 4,060 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $554,000 after purchasing an additional 110 shares in the last quarter. Te Ahumairangi Investment Management Ltd grew its stake in United Parcel Service by 12.2% during the third quarter. Te Ahumairangi Investment Management Ltd now owns 17,236 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $2,337,000 after buying an additional 1,880 shares during the last quarter. Eaton Financial Holdings Company LLC acquired a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the third quarter worth approximately $1,021,000. Pine Valley Investments Ltd Liability Co raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 25.9% in the third quarter. Pine Valley Investments Ltd Liability Co now owns 26,457 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $3,607,000 after acquiring an additional 5,444 shares during the last quarter. Finally, World Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 79.6% in the 3rd quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC now owns 17,675 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $2,410,000 after acquiring an additional 7,836 shares in the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

Shares of UPS opened at $96.50 on Wednesday. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $111.50 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $123.47. 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 $90.55 and a twelve month high of $153.42. The firm has a market cap of $82.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.27, a PEG ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.10.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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 previous year, the firm posted $2.47 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were paid a dividend of $1.64 per share. This is a boost from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.80%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 18th. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 97.04%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on UPS shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on United Parcel Service in a report on Friday, March 7th. They set a “hold” rating and a $119.00 price target for the company. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on United Parcel Service from $156.00 to $153.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $128.00 to $120.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 27th. Citigroup dropped their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $149.00 to $123.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, Susquehanna dropped their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $130.00 to $120.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, United Parcel Service currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $131.32.

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.