Proficio Capital Partners LLC Invests $27.58 Million in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Proficio Capital Partners LLC bought a new position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 218,745 shares of the transportation company’s stock, valued at approximately $27,584,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. AMF Tjanstepension AB raised its holdings in United Parcel Service by 39.7% in the 3rd quarter. AMF Tjanstepension AB now owns 108,360 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $14,793,000 after buying an additional 30,815 shares during the last quarter. Cornerstone Wealth Group LLC raised its holdings in United Parcel Service by 9.4% in the 3rd quarter. Cornerstone Wealth Group LLC now owns 3,190 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $435,000 after buying an additional 273 shares during the last quarter. Financial Advocates Investment Management raised its holdings in United Parcel Service by 112.8% in the 3rd quarter. Financial Advocates Investment Management now owns 8,242 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $1,124,000 after buying an additional 4,368 shares during the last quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. raised its holdings in United Parcel Service by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. now owns 69,047 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $9,414,000 after buying an additional 984 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Drexel Morgan & Co. bought a new position in United Parcel Service in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $14,965,000. Institutional investors own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

NYSE UPS opened at $118.97 on Friday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $122.41 and a 200 day simple moving average of $128.07. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12-month low of $109.40 and a 12-month high of $158.95. 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 market cap of $101.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.60, a PEG ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.98.

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, beating the consensus estimate of $2.52 by $0.23. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 39.13% and a net margin of 6.35%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.47 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be paid a dividend of $1.64 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 18th. This is a boost from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.51%. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 97.04%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Wolfe Research upgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a “peer perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $147.00 price objective for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Argus upgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $128.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Loop Capital lowered their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $155.00 to $150.00 in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Two equities research 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. According to data from MarketBeat.com, United Parcel Service has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $140.73.

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.