MCF Advisors LLC Grows Stock Holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. $UPS

MCF Advisors LLC raised its stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 753.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 5,874 shares of the transportation company’s stock after buying an additional 5,186 shares during the period. MCF Advisors LLC’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $583,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Ipsen Advisor Group LLC boosted its position in United Parcel Service by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. Ipsen Advisor Group LLC now owns 5,670 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $562,000 after buying an additional 95 shares during the period. Pinebridge Investments LLC purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter valued at about $9,324,000. FLC Capital Advisors boosted its position in United Parcel Service by 3.9% in the 4th quarter. FLC Capital Advisors now owns 20,747 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $2,058,000 after buying an additional 771 shares during the period. Parallel Advisors LLC boosted its position in United Parcel Service by 20.1% in the 4th quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 20,440 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $2,027,000 after buying an additional 3,425 shares during the period. Finally, Total Wealth Planning & Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter valued at about $634,000. 60.26% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

United Parcel Service Trading Down 1.4%

NYSE UPS opened at $108.65 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.21, a current ratio of 1.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.50. The firm has a market cap of $92.35 billion, a PE ratio of 17.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $102.18 and a 200 day moving average price of $103.56. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 52 week low of $82.00 and a 52 week high of $122.41.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 28th. The transportation company reported $1.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.02 by $0.05. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 5.94% and a return on equity of 35.95%. The business had revenue of $21.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.99 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.49 EPS. United Parcel Service’s revenue for the quarter was down 1.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 4th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 18th were paid a dividend of $1.64 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, May 18th. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.0%. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is presently 106.15%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of United Parcel Service from a “hold (c)” rating to a “sell (d+)” rating in a report on Friday, May 8th. UBS Group reduced their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $125.00 to $123.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Evercore reduced their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $115.00 to $113.00 and set an “in-line” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 22nd. Susquehanna boosted their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $116.00 to $118.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Finally, Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $118.00 to $127.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and four have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $111.50.

About United Parcel Service

United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS) is a global package delivery and supply chain management company that provides a broad range of transportation, logistics and e-commerce services. Its core business centers on small-package delivery and last-mile distribution for business and individual customers, supported by a network of ground transportation, air cargo operations (UPS Airlines) and sorting facilities. In addition to parcel delivery, UPS offers freight transportation, contract logistics, warehousing, customs brokerage and reverse-logistics solutions designed to support domestic and international commerce.

The company traces its roots to 1907 when it began as a small messenger service in the United States and later evolved into the United Parcel Service.