Confluence Investment Management LLC Buys 36,135 Shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Confluence Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 6.0% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 638,607 shares of the transportation company's stock after acquiring an additional 36,135 shares during the period. Confluence Investment Management LLC owned about 0.07% of United Parcel Service worth $70,240,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of UPS. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter valued at $1,075,393,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter valued at $393,680,000. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 15.6% in the fourth quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 10,979,909 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $1,384,567,000 after purchasing an additional 1,484,452 shares in the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 77.7% in the fourth quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 3,150,901 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $397,329,000 after purchasing an additional 1,378,136 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 6.1% in the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 23,264,665 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $2,933,674,000 after purchasing an additional 1,337,058 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.26% of the company's stock.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

United Parcel Service stock traded down $0.60 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $97.50. 6,763,138 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,149,065. The company has a market cap of $82.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a current ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a twelve month low of $90.55 and a twelve month high of $148.15. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $98.81 and a two-hundred day moving average of $115.46.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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. The business had revenue of $21.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.25 billion. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 39.13% and a net margin of 6.35%. United Parcel Service's quarterly revenue was down .9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.43 EPS. Equities analysts expect that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 5th. Investors of record on Monday, May 19th will be given a dividend of $1.64 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, May 19th. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.73%. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio is presently 95.63%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UPS has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Susquehanna reduced 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. Wells Fargo & Company restated an "equal weight" rating and issued a $98.00 target price (down previously from $120.00) on shares of United Parcel Service in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 7th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on shares of United Parcel Service in a research note on Friday, March 7th. They issued a "hold" rating and a $119.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Wolfe Research lowered their target price on United Parcel Service from $133.00 to $113.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have given a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average 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.