United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) Shares Sold by Murphy Pohlad Asset Management LLC

Murphy Pohlad Asset Management LLC reduced its stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 1.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 27,422 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 357 shares during the period. United Parcel Service makes up about 1.5% of Murphy Pohlad Asset Management LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 24th largest holding. Murphy Pohlad Asset Management LLC’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $3,458,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Swedbank AB increased its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 6.3% during the fourth quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 298,088 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $37,589,000 after buying an additional 17,579 shares during the period. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. increased its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 3.2% in the 4th quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 64,950 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $8,190,000 after purchasing an additional 1,997 shares during the last quarter. R Squared Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter valued at $226,000. Accordant Advisory Group Inc grew its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 7.0% during the fourth quarter. Accordant Advisory Group Inc now owns 14,463 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $1,824,000 after purchasing an additional 942 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 6.8% during the fourth quarter. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC now owns 5,383 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $679,000 after purchasing an additional 343 shares in the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have issued reports on UPS shares. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Wolfe Research raised United Parcel Service from a “peer perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $147.00 price target for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $165.00 to $162.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Citigroup lowered their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $163.00 to $158.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and cut their price target for the stock from $155.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $151.24.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of United Parcel Service stock in a transaction on 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 transaction, the insider now owns 45,098 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,249,229.86. This trade represents a 13.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

Shares of UPS opened at $133.81 on Thursday. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 1 year low of $121.56 and a 1 year high of $158.95. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $129.01 and its 200 day simple moving average is $130.70. The company has a market capitalization of $114.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.21, a PEG ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.14.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last posted 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 return on equity of 37.38% and a net margin of 6.25%. On average, sell-side analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.49 EPS for the current year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 18th were issued a dividend of $1.63 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 18th. This represents a $6.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.87%. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is currently 98.49%.

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.