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

Bleakley Financial Group LLC reduced its position in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 45.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 33,983 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 28,595 shares during the period. Bleakley Financial Group LLC’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $4,285,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. NovaPoint Capital LLC grew its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 11.9% in the 4th quarter. NovaPoint Capital LLC now owns 1,874 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $236,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the period. Trilogy Capital Inc. lifted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 6.9% in the fourth quarter. Trilogy Capital Inc. now owns 23,527 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $2,967,000 after acquiring an additional 1,520 shares during the last quarter. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC grew its position in United Parcel Service by 9.7% in the fourth quarter. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC now owns 5,409 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $682,000 after acquiring an additional 478 shares during the period. Onyx Bridge Wealth Group LLC acquired a new stake in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter worth $461,000. Finally, Tyche Wealth Partners LLC raised its position in United Parcel Service by 67.8% in the fourth quarter. Tyche Wealth Partners LLC now owns 7,247 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $914,000 after purchasing an additional 2,927 shares during the period. 60.26% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently issued reports on UPS shares. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $82.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Bank of America reduced their price target 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. UBS Group lowered their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $170.00 to $141.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Loop Capital cut their target price on United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $128.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $140.73.

Insider Activity at United Parcel Service

In related news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total value 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. This represents a 13.97 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

NYSE:UPS opened at $113.47 on Friday. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12 month low of $109.40 and a 12 month high of $158.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $96.83 billion, a PE ratio of 16.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 0.98. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $126.84 and its 200 day moving average price is $129.57.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, beating 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 period in the prior year, the company posted $2.47 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 8.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be issued a $1.64 dividend. This is a boost from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 18th. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.78%. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is presently 96.45%.

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.