Avanza Fonder AB Has $7.95 Million Position in United Parcel Service, Inc. $UPS

Avanza Fonder AB raised its position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 9.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 80,169 shares of the transportation company’s stock after purchasing an additional 6,931 shares during the period. Avanza Fonder AB’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $7,952,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Somerset Trust Co acquired a new position in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter valued at $224,000. Murphy Middleton Hinkle & Parker Inc. bought a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter valued at $2,450,000. Atlas Brown Inc. raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 8.2% during the 4th quarter. Atlas Brown Inc. now owns 2,976 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $295,000 after buying an additional 225 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 155.9% during the 4th quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 1,071,487 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $106,281,000 after buying an additional 652,750 shares during the period. Finally, Diversified Trust Co. lifted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 18.7% during the fourth quarter. Diversified Trust Co. now owns 3,502 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $347,000 after acquiring an additional 551 shares in the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have issued reports on UPS shares. Weiss Ratings raised United Parcel Service from a “sell (d+)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on United Parcel Service from $112.00 to $116.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price objective on United Parcel Service from $88.00 to $106.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Sanford C. Bernstein raised their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $122.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 9th. Finally, Stephens lifted their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $113.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $113.67.

Insider Activity at United Parcel Service

In related news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 25,014 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $106.15, for a total transaction of $2,655,236.10. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

United Parcel Service Trading Up 2.0%

United Parcel Service stock opened at $97.76 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $83.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.90, a P/E/G ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.08. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $108.98 and a 200-day moving average of $98.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45, a current ratio of 1.22 and a quick ratio of 1.22. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a one year low of $82.00 and a one year high of $122.41.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The transportation company reported $2.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.20 by $0.18. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 38.30% and a net margin of 6.28%.The business had revenue of $24.48 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $23.91 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.75 earnings per share. United Parcel Service’s quarterly revenue was down 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts expect that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 5th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th were paid a dividend of $1.64 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 17th. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.7%. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is currently 100.00%.

About United Parcel Service

United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS) is a global package delivery and supply chain management company that provides a broad range of transportation, logistics and e-commerce services. Its core business centers on small-package delivery and last-mile distribution for business and individual customers, supported by a network of ground transportation, air cargo operations (UPS Airlines) and sorting facilities. In addition to parcel delivery, UPS offers freight transportation, contract logistics, warehousing, customs brokerage and reverse-logistics solutions designed to support domestic and international commerce.

The company traces its roots to 1907 when it began as a small messenger service in the United States and later evolved into the United Parcel Service.