United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) Shares Sold by Simplicity Wealth LLC

Simplicity Wealth LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 58.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,356 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 7,600 shares during the period. Simplicity Wealth LLC’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $675,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. Sound View Wealth Advisors Group LLC lifted its stake in United Parcel Service by 39.8% during the 4th quarter. Sound View Wealth Advisors Group LLC now owns 4,735 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $597,000 after acquiring an additional 1,349 shares during the period. Ceera Investments LLC lifted its stake in United Parcel Service by 61.0% during the 4th quarter. Ceera Investments LLC now owns 11,298 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $1,425,000 after acquiring an additional 4,282 shares during the period. Sowell Financial Services LLC lifted its stake in United Parcel Service by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Sowell Financial Services LLC now owns 66,629 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $8,402,000 after acquiring an additional 216 shares during the period. Roberts Glore & Co. Inc. IL lifted its stake in United Parcel Service by 6.2% during the 4th quarter. Roberts Glore & Co. Inc. IL now owns 6,463 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $815,000 after acquiring an additional 375 shares during the period. Finally, OFI Invest Asset Management acquired a new stake in United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $38,000. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

United Parcel Service Trading Up 0.9 %

Shares of UPS opened at $121.59 on Monday. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 52-week low of $109.40 and a 52-week high of $158.95. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $121.73 and its two-hundred day moving average is $127.77. The stock has a market cap of $103.85 billion, a PE ratio of 17.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.94.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) 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 quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.47 EPS. Research analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were paid a dividend of $1.64 per share. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.40%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 18th. This is a boost from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is 97.04%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have commented on the stock. Raymond James decreased their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $155.00 to $145.00 and set a “strong-buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $135.00 to $120.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. UBS Group cut their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $170.00 to $141.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Robert W. Baird lowered shares of United Parcel Service from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their target price for the company from $160.00 to $130.00 in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised shares of United Parcel Service from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and cut their target price for the company 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 issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $138.00.

United Parcel Service Company 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.