Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC Reduces Stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC lessened its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 12,068 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 200 shares during the period. Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $1,645,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Strategic Wealth Investment Group LLC lifted its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 1,408.3% during the 3rd quarter. Strategic Wealth Investment Group LLC now owns 32,776 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $4,368,000 after buying an additional 30,603 shares during the last quarter. Old Port Advisors raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 119.4% during the 3rd quarter. Old Port Advisors now owns 22,526 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $3,071,000 after acquiring an additional 12,259 shares in the last quarter. Asahi Life Asset Management CO. LTD. purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service in the third quarter valued at $543,000. Klein Pavlis & Peasley Financial Inc. boosted its stake in United Parcel Service by 1.9% in the third quarter. Klein Pavlis & Peasley Financial Inc. now owns 8,181 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $1,115,000 after acquiring an additional 156 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Financial Management Professionals Inc. grew its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 5.8% during the third quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 2,530 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $345,000 after purchasing an additional 139 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

UPS opened at $135.34 on Tuesday. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $131.02 and its 200 day simple moving average is $135.81. The stock has a market cap of $115.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.44, a P/E/G ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.99. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 1-year low of $123.12 and a 1-year high of $163.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 1.25.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The transportation company reported $1.76 EPS 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 business had revenue of $22.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.10 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.57 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.41 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 19th were paid a dividend of $1.63 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 19th. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.82%. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 98.49%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently issued reports on UPS shares. Barclays reissued an “underweight” rating and issued a $120.00 target price on shares of United Parcel Service in a research report on Monday, October 21st. Susquehanna lifted their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $165.00 to $162.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. Bank of America boosted their target price on United Parcel Service from $132.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday. Finally, Citigroup assumed coverage on United Parcel Service in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. They set a “buy” rating and a $162.00 price target for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $151.71.

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.