Baird Financial Group Inc. Trims Holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. $UPS

Baird Financial Group Inc. decreased its stake in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 19.3% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 610,725 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 145,663 shares during the period. Baird Financial Group Inc.’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $61,647,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in UPS. Evelyn Partners Investment Management Europe Ltd boosted its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 110.1% in the second quarter. Evelyn Partners Investment Management Europe Ltd now owns 250 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 131 shares during the period. Mid American Wealth Advisory Group Inc. bought a new stake in United Parcel Service during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Hemington Wealth Management lifted its stake in United Parcel Service by 68.9% in the 1st quarter. Hemington Wealth Management now owns 282 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 115 shares in the last quarter. Saudi Central Bank bought a new position in United Parcel Service in the 1st quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Flaharty Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of United Parcel Service during the 1st quarter valued at $33,000. Institutional investors own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

Shares of United Parcel Service stock opened at $94.71 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $80.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a fifty day moving average of $90.80 and a 200-day moving average of $92.65. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 52-week low of $82.00 and a 52-week high of $136.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.50, a quick ratio of 1.30 and a current ratio of 1.30.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The transportation company reported $1.74 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.31 by $0.43. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.15% and a return on equity of 40.07%. The business had revenue of $21.42 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.94 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.76 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.7% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 4th. Investors of record on Monday, November 17th were issued a dividend of $1.64 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 17th. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.9%. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is currently 101.39%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on UPS. Bank of America lowered their price objective on United Parcel Service from $83.00 to $81.00 and set an “underperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, September 26th. Wall Street Zen raised United Parcel Service from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, November 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on United Parcel Service from $85.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $91.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $110.00 to $113.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating, sixteen have issued a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $110.00.

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.