Maryland State Retirement & Pension System Sells 2,197 Shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Maryland State Retirement & Pension System lowered its position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 5.3% in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 39,506 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 2,197 shares during the quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $4,982,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Aviance Capital Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 2.7% during the third quarter. Aviance Capital Partners LLC now owns 6,620 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $903,000 after purchasing an additional 175 shares in the last quarter. OneAscent Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in United Parcel Service during the 3rd quarter worth $309,000. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in United Parcel Service by 39.9% in the 3rd quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 9,746 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $1,329,000 after buying an additional 2,782 shares during the last quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise increased its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 20.5% in the 3rd quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise now owns 36,164 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $4,931,000 after buying an additional 6,149 shares during the period. Finally, B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG bought a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the third quarter worth $8,731,000. 60.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

United Parcel Service Stock Down 1.2 %

Shares of UPS stock opened at $117.42 on Thursday. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12-month low of $109.40 and a 12-month 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 has a fifty day moving average of $120.49 and a 200-day moving average of $127.18. The company has a market capitalization of $100.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.37, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.94.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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 earnings per share. As a group, equities research 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 company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were paid a $1.64 dividend. This is a boost from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 18th. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.59%. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is presently 97.04%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. StockNews.com upgraded United Parcel Service from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $82.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Evercore ISI increased their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of United Parcel Service in a report on Friday, March 7th. They set a “hold” rating and a $119.00 target price for the company. Finally, Bank of America cut their price target on United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $133.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $138.09.

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.