United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) Shares Purchased by Principal Financial Group Inc.

Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) by 4.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 829,280 shares of the transportation company's stock after acquiring an additional 33,989 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned about 0.10% of United Parcel Service worth $113,064,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. True Wealth Design LLC increased its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 397.7% during the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 214 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 171 shares during the period. Centerpoint Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 291.7% during the second quarter. Centerpoint Advisors LLC now owns 235 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 175 shares in the last quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in United Parcel Service by 168.5% in the second quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 247 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 155 shares during the last quarter. PSI Advisors LLC raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 408.2% in the third quarter. PSI Advisors LLC now owns 249 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Princeton Global Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 720.0% during the 3rd quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 246 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 216 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.26% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on UPS. BMO Capital Markets raised United Parcel Service from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and lowered their price target for the company from $155.00 to $150.00 in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Argus upgraded United Parcel Service from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Oppenheimer boosted their target price on United Parcel Service from $140.00 to $146.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, October 28th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. Finally, Bank of America lifted their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $132.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $151.29.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

UPS traded up $3.03 on Friday, hitting $125.68. 12,702,846 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,233,275. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $122.01 and a fifty-two week high of $161.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $107.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 0.98. The business's fifty day moving average is $132.25 and its 200 day moving average is $132.35.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The transportation company reported $1.76 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.63 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $22.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $22.10 billion. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 37.38% and a net margin of 6.25%. The company's revenue was up 5.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.57 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.48 EPS for the current year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 18th were paid a dividend of $1.63 per share. This represents a $6.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.19%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 18th. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 98.49%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total transaction of $1,015,025.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 45,098 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,249,229.86. This trade represents a 13.97 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.13% of the company's stock.

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.