Ultrapar Participações (NYSE:UGP) Sets New 1-Year Low - Here's Why

Ultrapar Participações S.A. (NYSE:UGP - Get Free Report)'s share price reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $3.13 and last traded at $3.15, with a volume of 1550167 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $3.20.

Analyst Ratings Changes

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

Ultrapar Participações Trading Up 1.8 %

The company has a current ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. The business has a 50 day moving average of $2.99 and a 200-day moving average of $3.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.71, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 1.13.

Ultrapar Participações Cuts Dividend

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

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ultrapar Participações

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UGP. SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new stake in shares of Ultrapar Participações in the fourth quarter valued at about $374,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its stake in Ultrapar Participações by 194.7% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 159,142 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $617,000 after acquiring an additional 105,133 shares in the last quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in Ultrapar Participações by 38.1% during the 4th quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 20,609 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $54,000 after acquiring an additional 5,687 shares during the last quarter. Hennessy Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of Ultrapar Participações by 6.8% during the 4th quarter. Hennessy Advisors Inc. now owns 1,811,400 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $4,764,000 after acquiring an additional 115,600 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Ultrapar Participações by 72.4% in the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 57,100 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $150,000 after purchasing an additional 23,976 shares during the last quarter. 3.58% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Ultrapar Participações

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.