Arete Wealth Advisors LLC Buys 6,128 Shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. $UPS

Key Points

• Arete Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in United Parcel Service (UPS) by 39.5%, owning 21,632 shares worth approximately $2.38 million after purchasing 6,128 additional shares in Q1.
• Several analysts have downgraded their price targets for UPS, with Wells Fargo reducing its target from $98 to $91, indicating a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $112.59.
• UPS announced a quarterly dividend of $1.64 per share, representing a 7.8% dividend yield, with a payout ratio of 97.62% as of the last report.

Arete Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 39.5% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 21,632 shares of the transportation company's stock after buying an additional 6,128 shares during the period. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC's holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $2,379,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Brighton Jones LLC grew its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 63.8% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 12,126 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $1,529,000 after purchasing an additional 4,723 shares during the last quarter. Gotham Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 103.9% in the fourth quarter. Gotham Asset Management LLC now owns 50,757 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $6,400,000 after purchasing an additional 25,861 shares during the last quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC lifted its stake in United Parcel Service by 316.7% in the fourth quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 1,122,886 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $141,581,000 after acquiring an additional 853,388 shares during the period. Lazard Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in United Parcel Service by 52.1% in the fourth quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 5,375 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $677,000 after acquiring an additional 1,842 shares during the period. Finally, MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 10.2% in the fourth quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 108,976 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $13,736,000 after acquiring an additional 10,074 shares in the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at United Parcel Service

In other United Parcel Service news, CEO Carol B. Tome bought 11,682 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, August 1st. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $85.67 per share, for a total transaction of $1,000,796.94. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer owned 24,718 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,117,591.06. This trade represents a 89.61% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Christiana Smith Shi purchased 500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 22nd. The stock was acquired at an average price of $88.17 per share, with a total value of $44,085.00. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 500 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $44,085. The trade was a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have bought 17,182 shares of company stock worth $1,477,382. Corporate insiders own 0.13% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently commented on UPS. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $124.00 to $120.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. BNP Paribas Exane upgraded shares of United Parcel Service from an "underperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $100.00 price objective for the company in a report on Thursday, July 3rd. Galvan Research cut their price objective on United Parcel Service from $126.00 to $124.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, June 30th. Barclays decreased their target price on United Parcel Service from $90.00 to $80.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 31st. Finally, Wolfe Research dropped their price target on United Parcel Service from $113.00 to $112.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have issued a Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $112.59.

United Parcel Service Stock Down 0.6%

Shares of UPS stock traded down $0.49 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $83.91. 6,663,812 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,588,796. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $92.44 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $99.52. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12-month low of $83.05 and a 12-month high of $145.01. The stock has a market cap of $71.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.49, a PEG ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a quick ratio of 1.32, a current ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.51.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The transportation company reported $1.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate 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 analysts' expectations of $20.90 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.79 earnings per share. United Parcel Service's revenue for the quarter was down 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 4th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 18th were issued a $1.64 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 18th. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.8%. United Parcel Service's payout ratio is 97.62%.

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.