HTLF Bank Makes New $6.54 Million Investment in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

HTLF Bank purchased a new position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 41,618 shares of the transportation company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,544,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 12.6% in the fourth quarter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC now owns 2,423 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $381,000 after acquiring an additional 272 shares during the period. Xponance Inc. boosted its stake in United Parcel Service by 4.5% during the fourth quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 128,294 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $20,172,000 after buying an additional 5,524 shares during the last quarter. AIA Group Ltd boosted its stake in United Parcel Service by 185.0% during the fourth quarter. AIA Group Ltd now owns 6,504 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $1,023,000 after buying an additional 4,222 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Trust Co. boosted its stake in United Parcel Service by 12.8% during the fourth quarter. Cambridge Trust Co. now owns 2,401 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $378,000 after buying an additional 273 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Investors Asset Management of Georgia Inc. GA ADV boosted its stake in United Parcel Service by 15.6% during the fourth quarter. Investors Asset Management of Georgia Inc. GA ADV now owns 5,192 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $817,000 after buying an additional 700 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on UPS shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price target on United Parcel Service from $183.00 to $179.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 28th. Raymond James reduced their price objective on United Parcel Service from $185.00 to $175.00 and set a “strong-buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. Susquehanna restated a “neutral” rating and set a $150.00 price objective on shares of United Parcel Service in a report on Wednesday, March 27th. TheStreet upgraded United Parcel Service from a “c” rating to a “b-” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on United Parcel Service from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, sixteen have assigned a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, United Parcel Service currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $165.61.

Insider Transactions at United Parcel Service

In related news, Director Eva C. Boratto bought 1,400 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 2nd. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $142.30 per share, for a total transaction of $199,220.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 1,400 shares in the company, valued at approximately $199,220. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

UPS traded up $0.89 on Friday, reaching $143.63. 825,957 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,262,463. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $149.55 and its 200 day moving average price is $151.28. The firm has a market capitalization of $122.47 billion, a PE ratio of 18.46, a PEG ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 1.05. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $133.68 and a fifty-two week high of $197.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 1.10.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.47 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.46 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $24.92 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $25.40 billion. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 39.46% and a net margin of 7.37%. The company’s revenue was down 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $3.62 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 8.2 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 8th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 20th were issued a dividend of $1.63 per share. This is a boost from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.62. This represents a $6.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.54%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 16th. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is currently 83.70%.

United Parcel Service Company 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.