Nuveen LLC Makes New Investment in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Key Points

• Nuveen LLC has acquired a substantial new stake in United Parcel Service, purchasing 1,830,692 shares valued at approximately $201.36 million, representing about 0.21% of the company.
• Several institutional investors, including Goldman Sachs and Pacer Advisors, have significantly increased their positions in UPS, with Goldman Sachs raising its holdings by 124%.
• UPS announced a quarterly dividend of $1.64 per share, yielding approximately 7.6% annually, despite reporting a 2.7% decline in revenue compared to the previous year.

Nuveen LLC acquired a new stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 1,830,692 shares of the transportation company's stock, valued at approximately $201,358,000. Nuveen LLC owned about 0.21% of United Parcel Service at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Pinney & Scofield Inc. bought a new position in United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Graybill Wealth Management LTD. acquired a new position in United Parcel Service during the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. Marshall & Sterling Wealth Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Citizens National Bank Trust Department increased its holdings in United Parcel Service by 525.0% during the 1st quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department now owns 250 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 210 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 60.26% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently issued reports on UPS. Evercore ISI reduced their target price on United Parcel Service from $103.00 to $97.00 and set an "in-line" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Barclays dropped their target price on United Parcel Service from $90.00 to $80.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 31st. Vertical Research reiterated a "hold" rating and issued a $103.00 price objective on shares of United Parcel Service in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. BNP Paribas Exane upgraded United Parcel Service from an "underperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $100.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 3rd. Finally, BNP Paribas raised United Parcel Service to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 3rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seventeen have assigned a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $112.81.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

Shares of UPS stock traded up $0.52 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $88.70. 12,337,337 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,409,208. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12 month low of $84.28 and a 12 month high of $145.01. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $97.59 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $103.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.51, a quick ratio of 1.32 and a current ratio of 1.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $75.11 billion, a PE ratio of 13.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 1.12.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 29th. The transportation company reported $1.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.56 by ($0.01). United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.34% and a return on equity of 39.61%. The business had revenue of $21.20 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.90 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.79 EPS. The company's revenue was down 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 4th. Investors of record on Monday, August 18th will be issued a $1.64 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 18th. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.4%. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio is currently 97.62%.

Insider Buying and Selling at United Parcel Service

In other news, Director William R. Johnson bought 5,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 31st. The stock was bought at an average price of $86.50 per share, with a total value of $432,500.00. Following the acquisition, the director owned 10,160 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $878,840. This represents a 96.90% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Carol B. Tome acquired 11,682 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, August 1st. The shares were bought at an average cost of $85.67 per share, with a total value of $1,000,796.94. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer directly owned 24,718 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,117,591.06. The trade was a 89.61% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.13% of the company's stock.

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.