Ultrapar Participações S.A. (NYSE:UGP) Short Interest Update

Ultrapar Participações S.A. (NYSE:UGP) was the target of a significant increase in short interest during the month of March. As of March 31st, there was short interest totalling 9,080,000 shares, an increase of 207.8% from the March 15th total of 2,950,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,770,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 5.1 days. Currently, 0.8% of the shares of the company are short sold.

Ultrapar Participações Price Performance

Shares of UGP traded down $0.03 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $2.87. 571,268 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,605,063. The stock has a market cap of $3.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.23, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 1.10. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $2.94 and a 200-day moving average of $3.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.57. Ultrapar Participações has a 52 week low of $2.53 and a 52 week high of $5.37.

Ultrapar Participações Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 24th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 10th were issued a dividend of $0.0774 per share. This represents a yield of 3.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 10th. Ultrapar Participações’s dividend payout ratio is presently 33.33%.

Institutional Trading of Ultrapar Participações

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UGP. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV bought a new position in Ultrapar Participações during the fourth quarter valued at $29,000. Franklin Resources Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Ultrapar Participações in the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Wolverine Trading LLC purchased a new stake in Ultrapar Participações during the 4th quarter valued at $35,000. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its stake in shares of Ultrapar Participações by 92.9% in the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 17,413 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $54,000 after acquiring an additional 8,388 shares during the period. Finally, Signaturefd LLC boosted its stake in shares of Ultrapar Participações by 23.0% during the 4th quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 19,705 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 3,688 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 3.58% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Ultrapar Participações from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. HSBC raised shares of Ultrapar Participações from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Scotiabank raised shares of Ultrapar Participações to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, December 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Ultrapar Participações from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and decreased their price target for the company from $4.10 to $3.20 in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Hsbc Global Res upgraded Ultrapar Participações from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $3.20.

About Ultrapar Participações

Ultrapar Participações SA, through its subsidiaries, operates in the energy and infrastructure business in Brazil. The company distributes liquefied petroleum gas to residential, commercial, and industrial consumers, in addition to renewable electricity and compressed natural gas. It also operates in the distribution and marketing of gasoline, ethanol, diesel, fuel oil, kerosene, natural gas for vehicles, and lubricants; and holds AmPm convenience stores and provides JetOil lubricant services.