Blue Chip Partners LLC Sells 177 Shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Blue Chip Partners LLC lowered its stake in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 0.2% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 96,677 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 177 shares during the quarter. United Parcel Service makes up approximately 1.6% of Blue Chip Partners LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 29th largest holding. Blue Chip Partners LLC’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $15,201,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Tennessee Valley Asset Management Partners purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at about $26,000. OFI Invest Asset Management purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service during the third quarter valued at about $25,000. Life Planning Partners Inc purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at about $31,000. Finally, VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC lifted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 69.5% during the third quarter. VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC now owns 239 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 98 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

NYSE UPS traded up $0.20 on Friday, reaching $147.59. 2,607,558 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,897,331. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12 month low of $133.68 and a 12 month high of $192.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 1.10. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $149.56 and a 200 day simple moving average of $150.90. The stock has a market cap of $125.84 billion, a PE ratio of 21.39, a P/E/G ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 1.05.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 23rd. The transportation company reported $1.43 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.33 by $0.10. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.60% and a return on equity of 37.42%. The business had revenue of $21.70 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $21.84 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.20 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was down 5.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 8.23 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

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

Insider Transactions at United Parcel Service

In other news, Director Eva C. Boratto bought 1,400 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 2nd. The shares were purchased at an average price of $142.30 per share, for a total transaction of $199,220.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 1,400 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $199,220. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have commented on UPS shares. Redburn Atlantic raised shares of United Parcel Service from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $180.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 3rd. UBS Group raised shares of United Parcel Service from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their price target for the stock from $160.00 to $175.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $145.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. Oppenheimer increased their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $153.00 to $157.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday. Finally, TD Cowen lowered their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $147.00 to $140.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have assigned a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $165.23.

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.