Wedbush Securities Inc. Boosts Holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Wedbush Securities Inc. grew its stake in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 23.3% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 17,971 shares of the transportation company's stock after acquiring an additional 3,399 shares during the quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc.'s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $1,977,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in UPS. Pinney & Scofield Inc. purchased a new position in shares of United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter worth approximately $27,000. Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. Graybill Wealth Management LTD. purchased a new position in shares of United Parcel Service in the first quarter worth approximately $26,000. Marshall & Sterling Wealth Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, Citizens National Bank Trust Department boosted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 525.0% in the first quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department now owns 250 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 210 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.26% of the company's stock.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

UPS traded down $0.95 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $102.58. The company's stock had a trading volume of 3,676,726 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,540,959. The business's 50-day moving average price is $99.96 and its 200-day moving average price is $107.51. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12 month low of $90.55 and a 12 month high of $145.01. The stock has a market cap of $86.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.95, a P/E/G ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a current ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The transportation company reported $1.49 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.38 by $0.11. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.44% and a return on equity of 40.15%. The company had revenue of $21.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $21.25 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.43 earnings per share. United Parcel Service's quarterly revenue was down .9% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed 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. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, May 19th. United Parcel Service's payout ratio is 95.63%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on UPS shares. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $130.00 to $125.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Raymond James Financial decreased their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $145.00 to $130.00 and set a "strong-buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Galvan Research decreased their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $147.00 to $133.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $145.00 to $124.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. Finally, Oppenheimer decreased their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $126.00 to $114.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have assigned a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $119.13.

United Parcel Service Company 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.