RPS Advisory Solutions LLC Increases Holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

RPS Advisory Solutions LLC increased its stake in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 7.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 5,583 shares of the transportation company’s stock after purchasing an additional 406 shares during the period. RPS Advisory Solutions LLC’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $704,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Capital Investment Counsel Inc raised its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Capital Investment Counsel Inc now owns 36,845 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $4,646,000 after purchasing an additional 301 shares during the last quarter. Morningstar Investment Management LLC raised its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. Morningstar Investment Management LLC now owns 5,052 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $637,000 after purchasing an additional 95 shares during the last quarter. Boston Financial Mangement LLC raised its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Boston Financial Mangement LLC now owns 5,978 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $754,000 after purchasing an additional 152 shares during the last quarter. Hardy Reed LLC acquired a new position in shares of United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth approximately $354,000. Finally, Handelsbanken Fonder AB raised its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 7.7% during the 4th quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 303,181 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $38,231,000 after purchasing an additional 21,688 shares during the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other United Parcel Service news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total value of $1,015,025.25. Following the sale, 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 document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 0.13% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have weighed in on UPS shares. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $82.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Argus upgraded United Parcel Service from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Robert W. Baird downgraded United Parcel Service from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their price target for the company from $160.00 to $130.00 in a report on Friday, January 31st. Raymond James cut their price target on United Parcel Service from $155.00 to $145.00 and set a “strong-buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price target on United Parcel Service from $166.00 to $147.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Two investment 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’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, United Parcel Service currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $140.73.

United Parcel Service Stock Up 1.3 %

Shares of United Parcel Service stock opened at $116.55 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $123.46 and a 200 day moving average price of $128.40. The stock has a market cap of $99.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.98. 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 posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, beating 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 previous year, the company posted $2.47 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be paid a dividend of $1.64 per share. This is a positive change 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 yield of 5.63%. 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.