Liberty Wealth Management LLC Sells 48,617 Shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Key Points

• Liberty Wealth Management LLC has significantly reduced its stake in United Parcel Service by 91.5%, selling 48,617 shares and now holding only 4,513 shares worth approximately $496,000.
• Several large investors are adjusting their positions in UPS, with institutional investors now owning 60.26% of the stock, indicating a substantial interest in the company.
• Analysts have lowered their target prices for UPS, with a consensus target price of $112.81, reflecting mixed sentiments about the stock's performance going forward.

Liberty Wealth Management LLC cut its stake in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 91.5% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,513 shares of the transportation company's stock after selling 48,617 shares during the period. Liberty Wealth Management LLC's holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $496,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently commented on UPS shares. Hsbc Global Res cut shares of United Parcel Service from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Bank of America reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $98.00 target price on shares of United Parcel Service in a report on Tuesday, July 29th. Daiwa America lowered their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $103.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Vertical Research reaffirmed a "hold" rating and set a $103.00 target price on shares of United Parcel Service in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Finally, Argus lowered their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $120.00 in a report on Friday, May 23rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seventeen have issued a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, United Parcel Service has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $112.81.

United Parcel Service Stock Up 0.9%

Shares of UPS traded up $0.73 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $85.75. The stock had a trading volume of 1,504,173 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,249,273. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.51, a current ratio of 1.32 and a quick ratio of 1.09. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $99.11 and a 200-day simple moving average of $105.51. The firm has a market capitalization of $72.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 1.12. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 1-year low of $84.28 and a 1-year high of $145.01.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The transportation company reported $1.55 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.56 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $21.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.90 billion. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.34% and a return on equity of 39.61%. The business's quarterly revenue was down 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.79 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 5th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 19th were paid a dividend of $1.64 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, May 19th. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.7%. United Parcel Service's payout ratio is 97.62%.

Insider Transactions at United Parcel Service

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

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.