HighTower Advisors LLC Has $109.87 Million Holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Key Points

• HighTower Advisors LLC reduced its holdings in United Parcel Service (UPS) by 3.3%, owning 998,923 shares valued at approximately $109.87 million after selling 33,934 shares in the first quarter.
• United Parcel Service reported quarterly earnings of $1.55 EPS, slightly below the analysts' expectation of $1.56 EPS, with revenue of $21.20 billion, exceeding the consensus estimate of $20.90 billion.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.64 per share, representing a 7.5% dividend yield, with a significant payout ratio of 97.62%.

HighTower Advisors LLC lowered its stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 3.3% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 998,923 shares of the transportation company's stock after selling 33,934 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC owned 0.12% of United Parcel Service worth $109,872,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

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

Insider Transactions at United Parcel Service

In related news, Director William R. Johnson purchased 5,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 31st. The shares were acquired at an average price of $86.50 per share, for a total transaction of $432,500.00. Following the purchase, the director owned 10,160 shares in the company, valued at approximately $878,840. This represents a 96.90% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Carol B. Tome bought 11,682 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, August 1st. The shares were acquired at an average price of $85.67 per share, for a total transaction of $1,000,796.94. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 24,718 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,117,591.06. This represents a 89.61% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UPS has been the topic of several research reports. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $124.00 to $120.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. TD Cowen cut their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $117.00 to $107.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Citigroup cut their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $127.00 to $114.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 31st. Bernstein Bank boosted their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $132.00 to $133.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Finally, Daiwa America cut their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $103.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seventeen have issued a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $112.81.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

UPS traded up $0.74 on Wednesday, reaching $88.17. The company had a trading volume of 13,583,232 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,590,222. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $84.28 and a fifty-two week high of $145.01. The stock has a market cap of $74.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.12, a P/E/G ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 1.12. The company's fifty day moving average is $97.59 and its 200 day moving average is $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.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The transportation company reported $1.55 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 company had revenue of $21.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.90 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.79 EPS. The firm's quarterly revenue was down 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

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

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.