Russell Investments Group Ltd. Makes New $288,000 Investment in Ultrapar Participações S.A. (NYSE:UGP)

Russell Investments Group Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of Ultrapar Participações S.A. (NYSE:UGP - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 109,330 shares of the oil and gas company's stock, valued at approximately $288,000.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Signaturefd LLC lifted its position in shares of Ultrapar Participações by 23.0% during the 4th quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 19,705 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $52,000 after acquiring an additional 3,688 shares during the period. QRG Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in Ultrapar Participações by 38.1% in the fourth quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 20,609 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $54,000 after purchasing an additional 5,687 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. increased its position in shares of Ultrapar Participações by 27.9% in the fourth quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 31,534 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $83,000 after buying an additional 6,882 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Ultrapar Participações by 26.0% during the 3rd quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 48,712 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $189,000 after buying an additional 10,037 shares during the last quarter. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its stake in Ultrapar Participações by 34.0% in the 4th quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 40,871 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $107,000 after acquiring an additional 10,368 shares during the last quarter. 3.58% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Ultrapar Participações Trading Down 1.6 %

Shares of NYSE:UGP traded down $0.05 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $3.15. 1,550,167 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,641,156. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $2.97 and its 200 day moving average price is $3.02. The firm has a market cap of $3.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 1.10. Ultrapar Participações S.A. has a 12-month low of $2.53 and a 12-month high of $5.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.57.

Ultrapar Participações Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 10th were given a $0.0774 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 3.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 10th. Ultrapar Participações's payout ratio is currently 33.33%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have issued reports on UGP. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Ultrapar Participações from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and reduced their target price for the company from $4.10 to $3.20 in a report on Friday, January 31st. HSBC upgraded Ultrapar Participações from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Hsbc Global Res upgraded Ultrapar Participações from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 17th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Ultrapar Participações from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $3.20.

Ultrapar Participações Profile

Ultrapar Participações SA, through its subsidiaries, operates in the energy and infrastructure business in Brazil. The company distributes liquefied petroleum gas to residential, commercial, and industrial consumers, in addition to renewable electricity and compressed natural gas. It also operates in the distribution and marketing of gasoline, ethanol, diesel, fuel oil, kerosene, natural gas for vehicles, and lubricants; and holds AmPm convenience stores and provides JetOil lubricant services.