United Parcel Service, Inc. $UPS Shares Sold by Mairs & Power Inc.

Key Points

• Mairs & Power cut its UPS stake by 40.3% in Q3 (selling 17,037 shares) and insider Norman M. Brothers Jr. sold 25,014 shares for about $2.66M, indicating notable institutional and insider selling pressure.
• UPS topped quarterly estimates with EPS of $2.38 (vs. $2.20) and revenue of $24.48B (vs. $23.91B), though revenue was down 3.2% year-over-year; the company reported a net margin of 6.28% and ROE of 38.3%.
• UPS yields 6.7% with a $1.64 quarterly dividend ($6.56 annualized) and a 100% payout ratio, while analysts hold a consensus "Hold" rating and an average target price of $113.67.

Mairs & Power Inc. lessened its stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 40.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 25,275 shares of the transportation company's stock after selling 17,037 shares during the quarter. Mairs & Power Inc.'s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $2,111,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Evelyn Partners Investment Management Europe Ltd increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 110.1% in the 2nd quarter. Evelyn Partners Investment Management Europe Ltd now owns 250 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 131 shares in the last quarter. Salzhauer Michael purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service during the third quarter worth $31,000. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in United Parcel Service by 76.5% in the third quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 376 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 163 shares during the last quarter. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in United Parcel Service in the second quarter valued at $34,000. Finally, Avion Wealth increased its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 284.1% in the third quarter. Avion Wealth now owns 434 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 321 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.26% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 25,014 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.15, for a total transaction of $2,655,236.10. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.13% of the company's stock.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UPS opened at $97.47 on Tuesday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $109.96 and a 200-day simple moving average of $98.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45, a current ratio of 1.22 and a quick ratio of 1.22. The company has a market cap of $82.76 billion, a PE ratio of 14.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 1.08. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12 month low of $82.00 and a 12 month high of $122.41.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The transportation company reported $2.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates 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 net margin of 6.28% and a return on equity of 38.30%. United Parcel Service's revenue was down 3.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $2.75 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 5th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 17th were paid a $1.64 dividend. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.7%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 17th. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio is presently 100.00%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UPS has been the subject of several research reports. UBS Group lifted their price target on United Parcel Service from $116.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $88.00 to $106.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. HSBC upgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on United Parcel Service from $99.00 to $107.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded United Parcel Service from a "sell (d+)" rating to a "hold (c-)" rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. 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 assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average 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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