Acropolis Investment Management LLC Reduces Position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Acropolis Investment Management LLC decreased its position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 11.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,391 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 672 shares during the quarter. Acropolis Investment Management LLC’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $735,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UPS. LRI Investments LLC acquired a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the first quarter worth $54,000. Cetera Advisors LLC lifted its position in United Parcel Service by 77.7% during the first quarter. Cetera Advisors LLC now owns 58,560 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $8,704,000 after buying an additional 25,600 shares during the period. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale lifted its position in United Parcel Service by 28.6% during the first quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 301,321 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $44,149,000 after buying an additional 66,995 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its stake in United Parcel Service by 64.3% in the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 5,394 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $738,000 after buying an additional 2,111 shares during the last quarter. Finally, M&R Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in United Parcel Service by 35.8% in the 2nd quarter. M&R Capital Management Inc. now owns 607 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $83,000 after buying an additional 160 shares during the period. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

United Parcel Service Stock Up 0.1 %

UPS stock opened at $135.85 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $133.55 and a 200-day simple moving average of $133.87. The company has a market capitalization of $115.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.52, a PEG ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 0.99. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a twelve month low of $123.12 and a twelve month high of $163.82.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The transportation company reported $1.76 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.63 by $0.13. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.25% and a return on equity of 37.38%. The company had revenue of $22.20 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.10 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.57 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 5th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 18th will be issued a dividend of $1.63 per share. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.80%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 18th. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is presently 98.49%.

Insider Transactions at United Parcel Service

In other news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total value of $1,015,025.25. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 45,098 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,249,229.86. This trade represents a 13.97 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $134.00 to $142.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, October 10th. Citigroup dropped their price objective on United Parcel Service from $163.00 to $158.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. Oppenheimer increased their target price on United Parcel Service from $140.00 to $146.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, October 28th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on United Parcel Service from $151.00 to $156.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Barclays reissued an “underweight” rating and set a $120.00 target price on shares of United Parcel Service in a research report on Monday, October 21st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, United Parcel Service currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $151.52.

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.