Marks Group Wealth Management Inc Buys 1,320 Shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Marks Group Wealth Management Inc grew its stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 7.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 18,623 shares of the transportation company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,320 shares during the period. Marks Group Wealth Management Inc’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $2,348,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Lester Murray Antman dba SimplyRich raised its holdings in United Parcel Service by 5.6% during the 4th quarter. Lester Murray Antman dba SimplyRich now owns 3,238 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $408,000 after buying an additional 172 shares during the period. Kentucky Trust Co bought a new position in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at $442,000. Gladstone Institutional Advisory LLC raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 6.3% in the fourth quarter. Gladstone Institutional Advisory LLC now owns 5,314 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $670,000 after acquiring an additional 315 shares during the period. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 12.9% in the 4th quarter. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,946 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $371,000 after acquiring an additional 337 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Certuity LLC boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 3.3% during the 4th quarter. Certuity LLC now owns 13,518 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $1,705,000 after purchasing an additional 431 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total transaction of $1,015,025.25. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 45,098 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,249,229.86. This represents a 13.97 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Raymond James reduced their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $155.00 to $145.00 and set a “strong-buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. UBS Group decreased their price target on United Parcel Service from $170.00 to $141.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price objective on United Parcel Service from $166.00 to $147.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Baird R W lowered United Parcel Service from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Citigroup lowered their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $158.00 to $149.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $140.73.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:UPS opened at $114.49 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $125.55 and a 200 day moving average of $129.16. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. The company has a market capitalization of $97.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 0.98. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 52 week low of $109.40 and a 52 week high of $158.95.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last released its quarterly 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 return on equity of 39.13% and a net margin of 6.35%. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.47 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be given a dividend of $1.64 per share. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.73%. This is a positive change from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 18th. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is presently 96.45%.

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.