AM Investment Strategies LLC Raises Stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

AM Investment Strategies LLC grew its stake in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 16.7% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 13,293 shares of the transportation company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,898 shares during the period. United Parcel Service makes up approximately 0.6% of AM Investment Strategies LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest position. AM Investment Strategies LLC’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $2,090,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Motley Fool Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth $3,874,000. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 18.0% during the 4th quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 5,013 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $788,000 after buying an additional 763 shares during the last quarter. Stevens Capital Management LP acquired a new position in shares of United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth $528,000. Syon Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 34.0% during the 4th quarter. Syon Capital LLC now owns 6,162 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $969,000 after buying an additional 1,562 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Meritage Portfolio Management raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 41.6% in the 4th quarter. Meritage Portfolio Management now owns 25,869 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $4,067,000 after purchasing an additional 7,601 shares during the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Eva C. Boratto purchased 1,400 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 2nd. The stock was purchased at an average price of $142.30 per share, for a total transaction of $199,220.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 1,400 shares in the company, valued at $199,220. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.13% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus cut their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $178.00 to $170.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 28th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 27th. UBS Group raised shares of United Parcel Service from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their target price for the company from $160.00 to $175.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. Argus downgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $154.00 to $150.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have assigned a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $166.96.

United Parcel Service Trading Up 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE:UPS traded up $0.83 during trading on Thursday, reaching $147.45. 3,553,246 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,351,563. The firm has a market cap of $125.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 1.05. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12-month low of $133.68 and a 12-month high of $192.98. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $149.57 and its 200 day moving average price is $151.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.10.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 23rd. The transportation company reported $1.43 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.33 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $21.70 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $21.84 billion. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 37.42% and a net margin of 6.60%. United Parcel Service’s quarterly revenue was down 5.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.20 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 8.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 8th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 20th were issued a $1.63 dividend. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.42%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 16th. This is a boost from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.62. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is currently 94.49%.

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.