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

Ultrapar Participações S.A. (NYSE:UGP) saw a significant increase in short interest in the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totalling 7,470,000 shares, an increase of 36.3% from the December 15th total of 5,480,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 2,190,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.4 days.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have weighed in on UGP shares. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price target on shares of Ultrapar Participações from $4.80 to $4.10 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Scotiabank raised shares of Ultrapar Participações to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, December 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Ultrapar Participações from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Ultrapar Participações from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Ultrapar Participações has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $4.10.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ultrapar Participações

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of UGP. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Ultrapar Participações in the 3rd quarter valued at $46,000. Freedom Investment Management Inc. bought a new stake in Ultrapar Participações during the third quarter valued at about $48,000. Signaturefd LLC grew its stake in Ultrapar Participações by 67.9% in the third quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 16,017 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $62,000 after purchasing an additional 6,476 shares during the last quarter. PDS Planning Inc raised its holdings in Ultrapar Participações by 90.2% in the third quarter. PDS Planning Inc now owns 21,408 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $83,000 after purchasing an additional 10,153 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. lifted its position in shares of Ultrapar Participações by 109.2% during the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 33,124 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $130,000 after buying an additional 17,291 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 3.58% of the company’s stock.

Ultrapar Participações Stock Down 3.8 %

Shares of UGP traded down $0.11 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $2.67. 591,755 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,438,469. The company’s 50 day moving average is $2.94 and its two-hundred day moving average is $3.63. Ultrapar Participações has a 52 week low of $2.53 and a 52 week high of $6.34. The company has a market capitalization of $2.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.82, a PEG ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.52. The company has a current ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76.

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.