Dupree Financial Group LLC Takes Position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Dupree Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 48,512 shares of the transportation company's stock, valued at approximately $5,336,000. United Parcel Service comprises 2.2% of Dupree Financial Group LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 18th biggest position.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of UPS. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 65,136,394 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $8,213,699,000 after acquiring an additional 370,705 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 2.7% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 15,704,334 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $1,979,695,000 after acquiring an additional 414,710 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 15.6% in the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 10,979,909 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $1,384,567,000 after acquiring an additional 1,484,452 shares during the period. FMR LLC raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 2.5% in the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 10,895,828 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $1,373,964,000 after acquiring an additional 268,278 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,075,393,000. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

Shares of UPS stock traded up $2.01 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $102.86. The stock had a trading volume of 1,296,558 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,212,942. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $90.55 and a fifty-two week high of $148.15. The firm has a market cap of $87.10 billion, a PE ratio of 14.99, a PEG ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 1.21. 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 company's 50-day simple moving average is $98.91 and its 200-day simple moving average is $109.48.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The transportation company reported $1.49 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.38 by $0.11. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.44% and a return on equity of 40.15%. The company had revenue of $21.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $21.25 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.43 EPS. The business's revenue was down .9% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 19th were issued a $1.64 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, May 19th. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.38%. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio is presently 95.63%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Citigroup cut their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $149.00 to $123.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. BMO Capital Markets cut their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $130.00 to $125.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. BNP Paribas Exane raised shares of United Parcel Service from an "underperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $100.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 3rd. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 7th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an "equal weight" rating and set a $98.00 target price (down from $120.00) on shares of United Parcel Service in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have assigned a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, United Parcel Service currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $119.29.

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.