Principal Financial Group Inc. Raises Holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. $UPS

Key Points

• Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its UPS stake by 3.6% in the fourth quarter, owning 815,283 shares valued at about $80.9 million. Institutional investors and hedge funds now hold roughly 60.26% of the stock.
• UPS reported quarterly earnings of $1.07 per share, beating estimates, while revenue came in at $21.20 billion, also slightly above expectations. However, revenue was still down 1.4% year over year.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $1.64 per share, implying an annualized payout of $6.56 and a yield of about 6.6%. Analysts currently have an average rating of Hold with a target price of $111.87.

Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 3.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 815,283 shares of the transportation company's stock after purchasing an additional 28,185 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned 0.10% of United Parcel Service worth $80,868,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Torren Management LLC purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 76.5% during the third quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 376 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 163 shares during the period. Activest Wealth Management grew its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 144.3% during the fourth quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 408 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $40,000 after buying an additional 241 shares during the last quarter. Avion Wealth grew its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 284.1% during the third quarter. Avion Wealth now owns 434 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 321 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Optima Capital LLC acquired a new position in United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter valued at about $44,000. 60.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

United Parcel Service News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting United Parcel Service this week:

• Positive Sentiment: UPS declared its regular quarterly dividend of $1.64 per share (payable June 4 to holders of record May 18), implying a roughly 6.5% yield — a clear signal of cash return and financial commitment that can support the share price. UPS Announces Quarterly Dividend
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysis pieces weigh UPS’s valuation after recent weakness and long-term returns — investors are parsing short-term noise vs. intrinsic value; these deeper discussions can stabilize trading but don’t force immediate moves. Does United Parcel Service (UPS) Look Attractive After Recent Share Price Weakness?
• Neutral Sentiment: Commentary on 2026 drivers highlights Amazon-related dynamics shaping UPS’s volume, pricing and contract risk — important context but mixed implications depending on outcomes. Here's Why UPS Stock Is Rising and Falling in 2026
• Neutral Sentiment: A new spot listing on a crypto exchange refers to a token called “UPS” (Upscreener) — this is unrelated to United Parcel Service operations but may cause ticker-search noise. BTCC Exchange Lists Upscreener (UPS) for Spot Trading
• Neutral Sentiment: Local franchise openings (PostalAnnex) reflect ongoing demand for shipping services at the retail level but have minimal direct impact on UPS’s public results. Local Business Owner Opens New Family-Owned PostalAnnex Location
• Negative Sentiment: Reports of delivery holds and employees “at wit’s end” point to operational and labor stresses that could hit service levels and costs if widespread. Investors worry such disruptions can pressure near-term results. UPS deliveries on hold, employees at wit’s end
• Negative Sentiment: Short-form research and opinion pieces argue UPS may face bigger challenges than bulls admit — highlighting margin pressure, cost headwinds and competitive threats that can drive downside sentiment. UPS: Maybe In More Trouble Than Bulls Admit
• Negative Sentiment: Market data shows UPS underperforming some peers on a recent daily basis, reinforcing short-term caution among traders. United Parcel Service Inc. Cl B stock underperforms
• Negative Sentiment: Sector commentary flags transportation ETFs lagging amid rising fuel costs and Amazon disruption — sector-wide headwinds can weigh on UPS even if company fundamentals remain intact. What's Wrong With Transportation Sector? Buy These ETFs Instead

United Parcel Service Trading Up 0.2%

NYSE:UPS opened at $100.05 on Friday. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 1 year low of $82.00 and a 1 year high of $122.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.50, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a current ratio of 1.21. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $102.47 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $102.21. The stock has a market capitalization of $84.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.19, a PEG ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 1.06.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, April 28th. The transportation company reported $1.07 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.02 by $0.05. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 5.94% and a return on equity of 35.95%. The company had revenue of $21.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.99 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.49 EPS. The business's revenue was down 1.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.1 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 4th. Investors of record on Monday, May 18th will be issued a dividend of $1.64 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, May 18th. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.6%. United Parcel Service's payout ratio is currently 106.15%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have weighed in on UPS shares. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on United Parcel Service from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on United Parcel Service from $115.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $101.00 to $115.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $99.00 to $107.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $96.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have assigned a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $111.87.

United Parcel Service Company Profile

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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