Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC Sells 5,779 Shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. $UPS

Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC lessened its position in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 4.1% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 136,489 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 5,779 shares during the period. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $13,538,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of UPS. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 1.8% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 68,496,420 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $6,794,160,000 after purchasing an additional 1,218,432 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 0.9% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 31,063,250 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $2,594,713,000 after purchasing an additional 288,720 shares in the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 10.5% in the third quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 7,991,490 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $667,109,000 after purchasing an additional 761,217 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 17.3% in the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 6,724,265 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $561,678,000 after purchasing an additional 993,461 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 10.6% in the third quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 5,072,282 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $423,746,000 after purchasing an additional 486,384 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 25,014 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $106.15, for a total transaction of $2,655,236.10. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.19% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UPS has been the subject of several research analyst reports. HSBC raised shares of United Parcel Service from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Wolfe Research reaffirmed a “peer perform” rating on shares of United Parcel Service in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Evercore decreased their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $115.00 to $113.00 and set an “in-line” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 22nd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $115.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $113.03.

United Parcel Service News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting United Parcel Service this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Indiana state tax court granted partial summary judgment to UPS on the wording of Indiana’s special fuel tax statute, a legal win that could reduce UPS’s tax exposure or lead to refunds. State tax court grants partial summary judgment to UPS over language of Indiana’s special fuel tax statute
• Positive Sentiment: An Indiana judge has indicated UPS overpaid fuel tax for private-road travel, reinforcing the potential for refunds or lowered future liabilities from the state dispute. This reduces a contingent tax risk on the balance sheet. UPS Overpaid Fuel Tax on Private Road Travel, Indiana Judge Says
• Positive Sentiment: UPS announced a temporary $0.23-per-pound surge fee across seven services on U.S. imports/exports, which should increase near-term revenue per shipment and help margins on cross-border volume. UPS adds temporary surge fee to US imports, exports
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage notes that UPS has been a trending ticker and that analysts and Zacks readers are parsing its Q1 estimates and key operational metrics—heightening focus on the upcoming quarter and increasing short-term volatility. United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) Is a Trending Stock: Facts to Know Before Betting on It
• Neutral Sentiment: Pre-earnings previews examine expected Q1 metrics beyond headline revenue and EPS; investor attention to margin drivers, international volumes, and pricing will matter for near-term guidance and sentiment. Curious about UPS (UPS) Q1 Performance? Explore Wall Street Estimates for Key Metrics
• Negative Sentiment: UPS plans to close its Defiance, Ohio terminal in June—a localized network contraction that may save costs but could signal capacity rationalization or weigh on near-term local volumes and sentiment. UPS will be closing Defiance terminal in June
• Neutral Sentiment: Market headlines reported the stock moved higher in the prior session despite a broader market slip—today’s direction looks driven more by the mix of company-specific news and profit-taking than by any single factor. United Parcel Service (UPS) Increases Despite Market Slip: Here’s What You Need to Know

United Parcel Service Trading Down 0.0%

NYSE:UPS opened at $107.01 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45, a current ratio of 1.22 and a quick ratio of 1.22. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $104.24 and a 200-day moving average of $101.27. The company has a market cap of $90.86 billion, a PE ratio of 16.31, a PEG ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 1.12. 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 posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The transportation company reported $2.38 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.20 by $0.18. The company had revenue of $24.48 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $23.91 billion. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.28% and a return on equity of 38.30%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.75 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 5th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 17th were issued a dividend of $1.64 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 17th. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.1%. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is 100.00%.

United Parcel Service Profile

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.