Wilkins Investment Counsel Inc. Purchases 23,057 Shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Key Points

• Wilkins Investment Counsel Inc. increased its stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. by 18.7%, purchasing an additional 23,057 shares to bring its total to 146,685 shares, valued at approximately $16.13 million.
• The company reported $21.50 billion in revenue and $1.49 earnings per share for the latest quarter, exceeding analyst estimates despite a 0.9% year-over-year revenue decline.
• United Parcel Service recently declared a quarterly dividend of $1.64, equating to a 6.39% yield and revealing a significantly high dividend payout ratio of 95.63%.

Wilkins Investment Counsel Inc. grew its position in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 18.7% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 146,685 shares of the transportation company's stock after buying an additional 23,057 shares during the quarter. United Parcel Service accounts for approximately 2.3% of Wilkins Investment Counsel Inc.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 16th biggest holding. Wilkins Investment Counsel Inc.'s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $16,134,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Gallacher Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of United Parcel Service in the 1st quarter worth about $620,000. Garde Capital Inc. bought a new stake in United Parcel Service in the first quarter worth about $37,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in United Parcel Service by 61.3% in the first quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,576 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $173,000 after acquiring an additional 599 shares during the last quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC grew its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 5.9% during the 1st quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 3,467 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $381,000 after acquiring an additional 193 shares during the period. Finally, Advisor Resource Council purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the 1st quarter worth approximately $437,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.26% of the company's stock.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

NYSE:UPS opened at $102.58 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization 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 debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.09. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $99.96 and a 200 day moving average of $107.51. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 52-week low of $90.55 and a 52-week high of $145.01.

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

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 5th. Investors of record on Monday, May 19th were paid a $1.64 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, May 19th. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.39%. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio is presently 95.63%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have weighed in on UPS shares. Susquehanna reduced their price objective on United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $110.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Truist Financial dropped their price target on United Parcel Service from $140.00 to $130.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on United Parcel Service from $122.00 to $127.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. HSBC cut United Parcel Service from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and set a $105.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Finally, Bank of America increased their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $111.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have assigned a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $118.22.

United Parcel Service 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.

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