Ultrapar Participações (NYSE:UGP) Upgraded by StockNews.com to Buy

Ultrapar Participações (NYSE:UGP) was upgraded by research analysts at StockNews.com from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report issued on Sunday.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Hsbc Global Res upgraded Ultrapar Participações from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, July 19th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their target price on Ultrapar Participações from $5.90 to $5.20 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, July 23rd. Citigroup raised Ultrapar Participações from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, June 14th. Finally, HSBC raised Ultrapar Participações from a “reduce” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, July 19th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $5.20.

Ultrapar Participações Stock Performance

Shares of UGP stock opened at $3.88 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.33 billion, a PE ratio of 8.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 1.61. Ultrapar Participações has a 52-week low of $3.39 and a 52-week high of $6.34. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $4.12 and its 200 day moving average price is $4.54. The company has a quick ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77.

Ultrapar Participações (NYSE:UGP) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The oil and gas company reported $0.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.08. Ultrapar Participações had a return on equity of 20.24% and a net margin of 2.21%. The firm had revenue of $6.21 billion for the quarter. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Ultrapar Participações will post 0.34 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Ultrapar Participações

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Acadian Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Ultrapar Participações by 175.6% during the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 3,471,048 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $19,850,000 after acquiring an additional 2,211,696 shares in the last quarter. Hennessy Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Ultrapar Participações during the second quarter valued at approximately $5,887,000. Marshall Wace LLP increased its stake in shares of Ultrapar Participações by 332.6% during the second quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 1,429,946 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $5,591,000 after acquiring an additional 1,099,433 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its stake in shares of Ultrapar Participações by 57.9% during the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 2,450,300 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $9,581,000 after acquiring an additional 898,600 shares during the period. Finally, US Bancorp DE grew its position in Ultrapar Participações by 1,497.3% in the fourth quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 153,473 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $832,000 after buying an additional 143,865 shares during the last quarter. 3.58% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Ultrapar Participações Company Profile

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.