Nordea Investment Management AB Boosts Holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. $UPS

Key Points

• Nordea Investment Management AB raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 1.0%, buying 40,536 shares to hold 4,284,342 shares (about 0.50% of UPS) valued at roughly $426.16 million at quarter-end.
• UPS beat Q4 estimates with EPS of $2.38 versus $2.20 and revenue of $24.48 billion versus $23.91 billion, though revenue declined 3.2% year‑over‑year.
• The company pays a quarterly dividend of $1.64 (annualized $6.56) for a 6.8% dividend yield and a 100% payout ratio, while analysts' consensus is a "Hold" with a $113.67 target price.

Nordea Investment Management AB grew its holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 1.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 4,284,342 shares of the transportation company's stock after purchasing an additional 40,536 shares during the quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB owned approximately 0.50% of United Parcel Service worth $426,163,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of UPS. CFS Investment Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 2.6% during the 3rd quarter. CFS Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 4,268 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $372,000 after acquiring an additional 108 shares in the last quarter. Center for Financial Planning Inc. raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 4.6% in the 3rd quarter. Center for Financial Planning Inc. now owns 2,558 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $214,000 after acquiring an additional 112 shares in the last quarter. Regal Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter. Regal Investment Advisors LLC now owns 7,129 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $596,000 after acquiring an additional 114 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Advisory Solutions LLC lifted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 2.3% in the 3rd quarter. Wealth Advisory Solutions LLC now owns 5,163 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $431,000 after purchasing an additional 118 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Winch Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 37.3% in the 3rd quarter. Winch Advisory Services LLC now owns 456 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares during the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity at United Parcel Service

In related news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 25,014 shares of United Parcel Service stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $106.15, for a total transaction of $2,655,236.10. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.13% of the company's stock.

United Parcel Service Trading Down 0.6%

Shares of United Parcel Service stock opened at $95.94 on Friday. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 1 year low of $82.00 and a 1 year high of $122.41. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $109.19 and its 200-day simple moving average is $98.30. The company has a market cap of $81.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.63, a PEG ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a current ratio of 1.22, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The transportation company reported $2.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.20 by $0.18. The firm had revenue of $24.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $23.91 billion. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 38.30% and a net margin of 6.28%.The company's quarterly revenue was down 3.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.75 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 5th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th were issued a dividend of $1.64 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 17th. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.8%. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 100.00%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UPS has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $112.00 to $116.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. BNP Paribas Exane downgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a "neutral" rating to an "underperform" rating and set a $85.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Oppenheimer raised their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $107.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $122.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 9th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $113.67.

About United Parcel Service

United Parcel Service NYSE: UPS is a global package delivery and supply chain management company that provides a broad range of transportation, logistics and e-commerce services. Its core business centers on small-package delivery and last-mile distribution for business and individual customers, supported by a network of ground transportation, air cargo operations (UPS Airlines) and sorting facilities. In addition to parcel delivery, UPS offers freight transportation, contract logistics, warehousing, customs brokerage and reverse-logistics solutions designed to support domestic and international commerce.

The company traces its roots to 1907 when it began as a small messenger service in the United States and later evolved into the United Parcel Service.

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