Chase Investment Counsel Corp Takes Position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Chase Investment Counsel Corp purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm purchased 3,181 shares of the transportation company’s stock, valued at approximately $401,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Metis Global Partners LLC lifted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 4.6% during the 4th quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 31,214 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $3,936,000 after buying an additional 1,363 shares during the last quarter. SVB Wealth LLC bought a new stake in United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter valued at $1,950,000. Tufton Capital Management raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 7.3% in the 4th quarter. Tufton Capital Management now owns 58,851 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $7,421,000 after buying an additional 4,014 shares in the last quarter. Fortress Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter worth $633,000. Finally, Argyle Capital Management LLC raised its stake 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 buying an additional 2,695 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

Shares of United Parcel Service stock opened at $118.97 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a twelve month low of $109.40 and a twelve month high of $158.95. The stock has a market cap of $101.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.60, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.98. The company’s fifty day moving average is $122.41 and its 200 day moving average is $128.07.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 business earned $2.47 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current 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 $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 5.51%. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is currently 97.04%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UPS has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $128.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Raymond James lowered their target price on United Parcel Service from $155.00 to $145.00 and set a “strong-buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on United Parcel Service from $135.00 to $120.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on United Parcel Service from $156.00 to $153.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Finally, Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, United Parcel Service presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $140.73.

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.