Griffin Asset Management Inc. Raises Holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Griffin Asset Management Inc. grew its position in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 6.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 49,412 shares of the transportation company’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,908 shares during the quarter. Griffin Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $6,231,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of UPS. Copperwynd Financial LLC lifted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 7.0% during the 2nd quarter. Copperwynd Financial LLC now owns 1,908 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $249,000 after acquiring an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. lifted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 4.1% during the second quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 16,630 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $2,276,000 after purchasing an additional 648 shares in the last quarter. Wallace Advisory Group LLC boosted its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 161.0% in the second quarter. Wallace Advisory Group LLC now owns 3,469 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $475,000 after buying an additional 2,140 shares during the period. Quarry LP grew its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 453.6% in the second quarter. Quarry LP now owns 537 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $73,000 after buying an additional 440 shares in the last quarter. Finally, B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 8.3% during the 2nd quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 24,205 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $3,312,000 after buying an additional 1,863 shares during the period. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

Shares of United Parcel Service stock opened at $136.23 on Tuesday. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 1-year low of $121.56 and a 1-year high of $158.95. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $128.95 and a 200-day simple moving average of $130.76. The company has a current ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20. The stock has a market capitalization of $116.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.58, a PEG ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 1.00.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 18th were paid a $1.63 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 18th. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.79%. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is presently 98.49%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UPS has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $156.00 to $153.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. BMO Capital Markets upgraded United Parcel Service from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $155.00 to $150.00 in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $165.00 to $162.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $159.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of United Parcel Service from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, United Parcel Service presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $151.24.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other United Parcel Service news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total value of $1,015,025.25. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 45,098 shares in the company, valued at $6,249,229.86. This trade represents a 13.97 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.13% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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.