United Parcel Service, Inc. $UPS Stock Position Raised by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans boosted its holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 10.0% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 722,383 shares of the transportation company’s stock after acquiring an additional 65,583 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans owned about 0.09% of United Parcel Service worth $72,917,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in UPS. Cornerstone Wealth Group LLC raised its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 3.9% during the 2nd quarter. Cornerstone Wealth Group LLC now owns 2,557 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $258,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares during the period. Bangor Savings Bank grew its stake in United Parcel Service by 1.9% during the 2nd quarter. Bangor Savings Bank now owns 5,413 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $546,000 after buying an additional 101 shares during the last quarter. First Dallas Securities Inc. increased its position in United Parcel Service by 0.9% in the first quarter. First Dallas Securities Inc. now owns 11,421 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $1,256,000 after buying an additional 102 shares during the period. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC lifted its stake in United Parcel Service by 3.4% in the first quarter. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,185 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $350,000 after buying an additional 104 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wright Investors Service Inc. lifted its stake in United Parcel Service by 1.3% in the second quarter. Wright Investors Service Inc. now owns 7,861 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $793,000 after buying an additional 104 shares during the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

NYSE UPS opened at $100.91 on Monday. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12 month low of $82.00 and a 12 month high of $136.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.50, a current ratio of 1.30 and a quick ratio of 1.30. The firm has a market capitalization of $85.61 billion, a PE ratio of 15.60, a P/E/G ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 1.11. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $92.40 and its 200 day simple moving average is $92.65.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The transportation company reported $1.74 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.31 by $0.43. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 40.07% and a net margin of 6.15%.The firm had revenue of $21.42 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.94 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.76 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 4th. Investors of record on Monday, November 17th were paid a dividend of $1.64 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 17th. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.5%. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 101.39%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently commented on UPS shares. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $110.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Stephens upgraded shares of United Parcel Service to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on United Parcel Service from $85.00 to $97.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price objective on United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $88.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 2nd. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded United Parcel Service from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, November 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Hold rating and four have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $110.00.

About United Parcel Service

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.