United Parcel Service, Inc. $UPS Shares Sold by Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisors L.P.

Key Points

• Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisors cut its stake in United Parcel Service by 11.4%, selling 19,444 shares and leaving it with 151,660 shares valued at about $15.0 million.
• UPS beat quarterly estimates with $2.38 EPS (vs. $2.20 expected) and $24.48 billion in revenue, though revenue was down 3.2% year-over-year; analysts have lifted several price targets but the stock's consensus rating remains a "Hold" with an average target of $113.03.
• Management is pursuing major cost cuts including roughly 30,000 job reductions, while UPS pays a high-yield dividend of $1.64 quarterly (6.5% yield) and a reported 100% payout ratio, prompting concerns about cash-flow and dividend sustainability.

Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisors L.P. decreased its stake in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 11.4% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 151,660 shares of the transportation company's stock after selling 19,444 shares during the quarter. United Parcel Service comprises 1.1% of Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisors L.P.'s holdings, making the stock its 26th biggest position. Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisors L.P.'s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $15,043,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Howard Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 60.5% during the 4th quarter. Howard Capital Management Inc. now owns 14,852 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $1,473,000 after purchasing an additional 5,598 shares in the last quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 850.6% during the 4th quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management now owns 24,677 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $2,448,000 after purchasing an additional 22,081 shares in the last quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 30.7% during the 4th quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC now owns 12,961 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $1,386,000 after purchasing an additional 3,043 shares in the last quarter. RFG Bristol Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $218,000. Finally, Venturi Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 9.2% during the 4th quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 13,616 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $1,351,000 after purchasing an additional 1,144 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.26% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on UPS shares. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $116.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $115.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $99.00 to $107.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $88.00 to $106.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, HSBC upgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $113.03.

United Parcel Service Stock Up 0.1%

UPS stock opened at $101.69 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $86.35 billion, a PE ratio of 15.50, a P/E/G ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a current ratio of 1.22. The firm's fifty day moving average is $106.50 and its 200 day moving average is $99.62. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a one year low of $82.00 and a one year high of $122.41.

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

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 5th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 17th were given a dividend of $1.64 per share. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.5%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 17th. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 100.00%.

United Parcel Service News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Geopolitical relief — reports that vessels are again passing through the Strait of Hormuz after a U.S.–Iran ceasefire helped lift logistics and shipping stocks, a direct tailwind for UPS's global freight and intermodal operations. Why United Parcel Service (UPS) Stock Is Up Today
• Positive Sentiment: Sector-wide bounce — broader supply-chain and freight names rallied on the ceasefire news, which tends to boost short-term outlook for volume and routing stability across carriers including UPS. Supply Chain Stocks Soar on Ceasefire News
• Positive Sentiment: Valuation/strategic pivot — analysts and commentators note UPS is trading below peer multiples as it shifts toward higher-margin healthcare and B2B segments while reducing Amazon volumes and targeting $3B of savings, supporting a value-buy narrative for some investors. UPS Stock Trades at a Discounted Valuation: Is it a Buy Signal?
• Neutral Sentiment: Investor attention — UPS has been one of the most-searched stocks recently, increasing liquidity and volatility risk but not implying a directional thesis by itself. Investors Heavily Search United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS): Here is What You Need to Know
• Neutral Sentiment: Talent movement in the industry — a former UPS leader joining a competitor (ACERTUS) is notable for sector dynamics but has limited immediate impact on UPS fundamentals. ACERTUS Hires Former UPS Leader as New Chief Revenue Officer
• Negative Sentiment: Major job cuts announced — reports that UPS will eliminate roughly 30,000 positions as part of a large cost-cutting plan raise concerns about volume weakness and execution risk, even if cuts could improve margins over time. UPS layoffs: Delivery giant to slash 30,000 jobs in major cost-cutting drive; who will be impacted?
• Negative Sentiment: Cash-flow concerns — analysis flagged two red flags around UPS's cash-flow quality and dividend coverage, which could weigh on investor confidence if free cash flow underperforms expectations. 2 Red Flags Waving Over UPS Cash Flow
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst headwinds — JPMorgan trimmed its price target and Citigroup lowered expectations, reflecting a mixed freight outlook and keeping near-term analyst sentiment cautious. UPS Faces Target Cut from JPMorgan Amid Mixed Freight Outlook Citigroup Has Lowered Expectations for United Parcel Service NYSE: UPS Stock Price

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 25,014 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $106.15, for a total transaction of $2,655,236.10. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 0.19% of the company's stock.

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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