Archford Capital Strategies LLC Trims Stock Position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Archford Capital Strategies LLC reduced its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 12.6% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,547 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 657 shares during the period. Archford Capital Strategies LLC’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $500,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in UPS. IMG Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Generali Investments Management Co LLC purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Pinney & Scofield Inc. purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, Runnymede Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter worth about $30,000. 60.26% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Bank of America increased their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $111.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. HSBC cut shares of United Parcel Service from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $105.00 price objective for the company. in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on United Parcel Service in a research report on Friday, March 7th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $119.00 price objective on the stock. UBS Group lowered their price target on United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $127.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 3rd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lowered their price target on United Parcel Service from $130.00 to $125.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, United Parcel Service currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $120.26.

United Parcel Service Trading Down 1.1%

Shares of UPS stock opened at $99.50 on Thursday. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 1 year low of $90.55 and a 1 year high of $148.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 1.09. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $98.00 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $111.09. The company has a market cap of $84.26 billion, a PE ratio of 14.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.77 and a beta of 1.22.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The transportation company reported $1.49 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.38 by $0.11. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 40.15% and a net margin of 6.44%. The company had revenue of $21.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.25 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.43 EPS. United Parcel Service’s quarterly revenue was down .9% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 19th were paid a $1.64 dividend. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.59%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, May 19th. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is currently 95.63%.

About United Parcel Service

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.