United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) Shares Sold by Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC

Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC decreased its stake in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 43.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 24,899 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 19,243 shares during the period. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $3,395,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of UPS. Verus Capital Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 6.2% during the 3rd quarter. Verus Capital Partners LLC now owns 3,152 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $430,000 after buying an additional 184 shares during the period. Platform Technology Partners grew its position in United Parcel Service by 16.7% during the third quarter. Platform Technology Partners now owns 2,247 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $306,000 after acquiring an additional 321 shares during the period. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. grew its position in United Parcel Service by 0.8% during the third quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 1,752,700 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $238,963,000 after acquiring an additional 14,635 shares during the period. First National Trust Co increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 0.4% during the third quarter. First National Trust Co now owns 43,434 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $5,922,000 after acquiring an additional 188 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Harbour Investments Inc. raised its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 5.9% in the 3rd quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 11,990 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $1,635,000 after purchasing an additional 673 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on UPS. Baird R W raised shares of United Parcel Service to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 24th. Oppenheimer increased their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $140.00 to $146.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, October 28th. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $138.00 to $141.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Barclays reiterated an “underweight” rating and issued a $120.00 price target on shares of United Parcel Service in a report on Monday, October 21st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on United Parcel Service from $134.00 to $142.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $151.52.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

Shares of UPS stock opened at $130.17 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $111.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.66, a P/E/G ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.99. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $132.12 and a two-hundred day moving average of $135.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 1.14. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 1-year low of $123.12 and a 1-year high of $163.82.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The transportation company reported $1.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.63 by $0.13. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 37.38% and a net margin of 6.25%. The firm had revenue of $22.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $22.10 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.57 earnings per share. United Parcel Service’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 5th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 18th will be issued a $1.63 dividend. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.01%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 18th. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is presently 98.49%.

United Parcel Service Company 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.