Birch Capital Management LLC Buys 3,793 Shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Birch Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 8.0% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 51,434 shares of the transportation company's stock after buying an additional 3,793 shares during the period. United Parcel Service comprises 2.9% of Birch Capital Management LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 13th biggest holding. Birch Capital Management LLC's holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $5,657,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Willis Investment Counsel lifted its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 39.8% in the 1st quarter. Willis Investment Counsel now owns 239,731 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $26,368,000 after acquiring an additional 68,209 shares during the period. Rockland Trust Co. raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 9.0% in the first quarter. Rockland Trust Co. now owns 13,316 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $1,465,000 after purchasing an additional 1,097 shares in the last quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH lifted its position in United Parcel Service by 4.2% in the first quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH now owns 12,420 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $1,366,000 after purchasing an additional 504 shares during the period. Greenwood Capital Associates LLC boosted its stake in United Parcel Service by 94.1% during the first quarter. Greenwood Capital Associates LLC now owns 10,676 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $1,174,000 after buying an additional 5,176 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fifth Third Bancorp increased its holdings in United Parcel Service by 29.0% in the 1st quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 137,822 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $15,159,000 after buying an additional 30,989 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 60.26% of the company's stock.

United Parcel Service Trading Down 1.0%

United Parcel Service stock traded down $1.03 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $99.89. 4,237,986 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,176,054. The stock has a market capitalization of $84.58 billion, a PE ratio of 14.78, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.22. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $97.49 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $112.84. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 52 week low of $90.55 and a 52 week high of $148.15.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The transportation company reported $1.49 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.38 by $0.11. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.35% and a return on equity of 39.13%. The company had revenue of $21.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $21.25 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.43 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was down .9% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 5th. Shareholders 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 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.57%. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 95.63%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have recently commented on UPS. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $130.00 to $125.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Raymond James dropped their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $145.00 to $130.00 and set a "strong-buy" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price objective on United Parcel Service from $145.00 to $124.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. Susquehanna dropped their target price on United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $110.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Finally, Wolfe Research cut their target price on United Parcel Service from $133.00 to $113.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $120.26.

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.