Centre Asset Management LLC Takes $9.53 Million Position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Centre Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 75,571 shares of the transportation company’s stock, valued at approximately $9,530,000. United Parcel Service makes up about 2.2% of Centre Asset Management LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 18th biggest position.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its holdings in United Parcel Service by 14.3% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 6,494 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $819,000 after purchasing an additional 814 shares in the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc grew its holdings in United Parcel Service by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 3,583 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $452,000 after acquiring an additional 89 shares during the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its position in United Parcel Service by 4.3% in the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 829,280 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $113,064,000 after acquiring an additional 33,989 shares in the last quarter. Syntax Research Inc. grew its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 3,770.3% during the third quarter. Syntax Research Inc. now owns 3,909 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $533,000 after purchasing an additional 3,808 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Logan Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 11.9% during the third quarter. Logan Capital Management Inc. now owns 87,069 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $11,871,000 after buying an additional 9,250 shares during the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at United Parcel Service

In other United Parcel Service news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total value of $1,015,025.25. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 45,098 shares in the company, valued at $6,249,229.86. The trade was a 13.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have commented on UPS shares. UBS Group upped their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $159.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Citigroup cut their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $163.00 to $158.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th. Bank of America raised their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $132.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $134.00 to $142.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target 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. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, United Parcel Service presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $151.10.

United Parcel Service Trading Down 0.8 %

Shares of UPS stock traded down $0.94 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $122.93. 679,756 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,765,599. The stock has a market cap of $104.90 billion, a PE ratio of 18.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 0.98. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $130.73 and its 200 day simple moving average is $131.69. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12 month low of $122.01 and a 12 month high of $161.48.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The transportation company reported $1.76 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.63 by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $22.20 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.10 billion. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 37.38% and a net margin of 6.25%. The business’s revenue was up 5.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.57 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.48 EPS for the current year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 5th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 18th were paid a dividend of $1.63 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 18th. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.30%. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 98.49%.

United Parcel Service 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.