United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) Shares Bought by Willis Investment Counsel

Willis Investment Counsel increased its holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 39.8% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 239,731 shares of the transportation company's stock after buying an additional 68,209 shares during the period. United Parcel Service comprises approximately 1.8% of Willis Investment Counsel's investment portfolio, making the stock its 20th biggest holding. Willis Investment Counsel's holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $26,368,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Rockland Trust Co. boosted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 9.0% in the 1st quarter. Rockland Trust Co. now owns 13,316 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $1,465,000 after acquiring an additional 1,097 shares during the last quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH raised its holdings in United Parcel Service by 4.2% in the 1st quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH now owns 12,420 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $1,366,000 after acquiring an additional 504 shares during the last quarter. Greenwood Capital Associates LLC boosted its stake in United Parcel Service by 94.1% during the first quarter. Greenwood Capital Associates LLC now owns 10,676 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $1,174,000 after buying an additional 5,176 shares during the last quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 29.0% during the first quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 137,822 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $15,159,000 after acquiring an additional 30,989 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Simon Quick Advisors LLC raised its holdings in United Parcel Service by 11.1% in the 1st quarter. Simon Quick Advisors LLC now owns 4,516 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $497,000 after buying an additional 450 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.26% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on UPS. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 7th. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an "equal weight" rating and issued a $98.00 target price (down previously from $120.00) on shares of United Parcel Service in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Bank of America lifted their price objective on United Parcel Service from $111.00 to $115.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. Raymond James 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 report on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, Susquehanna lowered their target price on United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $110.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, United Parcel Service presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $120.26.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

UPS traded down $1.03 during trading on Friday, hitting $99.89. The stock had a trading volume of 4,237,986 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,176,046. The firm has a market capitalization of $84.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.78, a PEG ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.17. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a twelve month low of $90.55 and a twelve month high of $148.15. The company's 50-day moving average price is $97.33 and its 200 day moving average price is $113.08.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The transportation company reported $1.49 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.38 by $0.11. The company had revenue of $21.50 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.25 billion. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 39.13% and a net margin of 6.35%. United Parcel Service's quarterly revenue was down .9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.43 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 5th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 19th were issued a $1.64 dividend. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.57%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, May 19th. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 95.63%.

About United Parcel Service

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.