Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV Acquires Shares of 11,055 Ultrapar Participações S.A. (NYSE:UGP)

Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV purchased a new position in shares of Ultrapar Participações S.A. (NYSE:UGP) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 11,055 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock, valued at approximately $29,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in UGP. Franklin Resources Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Ultrapar Participações during the 4th quarter worth $31,000. Signaturefd LLC grew its stake in shares of Ultrapar Participações by 23.0% during the 4th quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 19,705 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 3,688 shares during the period. QRG Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Ultrapar Participações by 38.1% during the 4th quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 20,609 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $54,000 after purchasing an additional 5,687 shares during the period. Quadrant Capital Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Ultrapar Participações by 49.6% during the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 27,813 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $73,000 after purchasing an additional 9,220 shares during the period. Finally, Sei Investments Co. grew its stake in shares of Ultrapar Participações by 27.9% during the 4th quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 31,534 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $83,000 after purchasing an additional 6,882 shares during the period. 3.58% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com cut shares of Ultrapar Participações from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Ultrapar Participações from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $4.10 to $3.20 in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $3.20.

Ultrapar Participações Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UGP opened at $3.10 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $3.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.73, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 1.13. Ultrapar Participações S.A. has a 52 week low of $2.53 and a 52 week high of $4.89. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $3.02 and its 200 day moving average price is $2.97. The company has a current ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76.

Ultrapar Participações Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 24th. Investors of record on Monday, March 10th were paid a $0.0774 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 10th. This represents a yield of 3.8%. Ultrapar Participações’s payout ratio is 36.11%.

About Ultrapar Participações

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.