Prudential Financial Inc. Increases Stock Holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Prudential Financial Inc. boosted its stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 107.7% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,361,621 shares of the transportation company’s stock after acquiring an additional 705,897 shares during the quarter. Prudential Financial Inc.’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $171,700,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Syntax Research Inc. lifted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 24.3% in the 4th quarter. Syntax Research Inc. now owns 4,858 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $613,000 after buying an additional 949 shares in the last quarter. Mountain Hill Investment Partners Corp. acquired a new stake in United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $255,000. Crowley Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,654,000. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in United Parcel Service by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 65,136,394 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $8,213,699,000 after acquiring an additional 370,705 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Community Bank N.A. increased its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Community Bank N.A. now owns 38,061 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $4,799,000 after purchasing an additional 550 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

Shares of UPS opened at $115.25 on Monday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $120.13 and a two-hundred day moving average of $127.00. The stock has a market cap of $98.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.05, a PEG ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.14. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a one year low of $109.40 and a one year high of $157.99.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.52 by $0.23. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.35% and a return on equity of 39.13%. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.47 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were issued a $1.64 dividend. This is a boost from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 18th. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.69%. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is 97.04%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UPS has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on United Parcel Service from $135.00 to $120.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Stifel Nicolaus cut their target price on United Parcel Service from $156.00 to $153.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Truist Financial initiated coverage on shares of United Parcel Service in a report on Thursday, March 13th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $140.00 price objective on the stock. UBS Group cut their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $170.00 to $141.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on shares of United Parcel Service in a research report on Friday, March 7th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $119.00 target price for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $138.09.

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.