Integrated Advisors Network LLC Decreases Holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. $UPS

Integrated Advisors Network LLC reduced its stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 56.0% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 6,434 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 8,184 shares during the quarter. Integrated Advisors Network LLC’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $633,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its stake in United Parcel Service by 63.8% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 12,126 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $1,529,000 after acquiring an additional 4,723 shares during the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $277,000. SVB Wealth LLC bought a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $848,000. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina lifted its stake in United Parcel Service by 2.7% in the second quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 342,866 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $34,609,000 after purchasing an additional 9,124 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ieq Capital LLC lifted its stake in United Parcel Service by 154.5% in the second quarter. Ieq Capital LLC now owns 104,819 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $10,580,000 after purchasing an additional 63,629 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have issued reports on UPS. Susquehanna raised their target price on United Parcel Service from $116.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 29th. Evercore lowered their price objective on United Parcel Service from $115.00 to $113.00 and set an “in-line” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 22nd. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a “hold (c)” rating to a “sell (d+)” rating in a report on Friday, May 8th. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $127.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Stephens raised shares of United Parcel Service to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and four have given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $111.10.

Key Stories Impacting United Parcel Service

Here are the key news stories impacting United Parcel Service this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Citigroup raised its price target on UPS to $132 from $127 and kept a buy rating, implying meaningful upside from current levels. The bullish call supports sentiment around the stock. Benzinga report on Citigroup price-target increase
• Positive Sentiment: Stephens upgraded UPS to strong-buy, adding to the recent wave of favorable analyst commentary. Zacks report on Stephens upgrade
• Positive Sentiment: UPS drew unusual options activity, with traders buying 34,148 call options, about 33% above normal volume. Heavy call buying can signal bullish speculation.
• Positive Sentiment: UPS’s addition to key Russell defensive indexes could increase demand from index-linked funds and reinforce the stock’s defensive appeal. Yahoo Finance article on Russell defensive index addition
• Neutral Sentiment: Several articles highlighted that UPS remains heavily watched ahead of earnings, with some commentary arguing the company has a decent chance to beat estimates again based on its recent surprise history. Zacks earnings preview
• Negative Sentiment: Bearish commentary warned that UPS may face muted revenue growth, margin pressure, and possible dividend risk if free cash flow remains weak, which could cap further upside. Seeking Alpha bearish analysis
• Negative Sentiment: Another analysis said recent progress could be short-lived and pointed to intensified competition from Amazon’s logistics expansion as a threat to UPS’s growth and margins. Seeking Alpha consolidation analysis

United Parcel Service Trading Up 0.6%

Shares of United Parcel Service stock opened at $110.62 on Friday. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $105.23 and its 200-day moving average price is $105.54. The company has a current ratio of 1.21, a quick ratio of 1.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.50. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12-month low of $82.00 and a 12-month high of $122.41. The company has a market cap of $94.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.90, a PEG ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 1.05.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 28th. The transportation company reported $1.07 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.02 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $21.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $20.99 billion. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 5.94% and a return on equity of 35.95%. United Parcel Service’s revenue for the quarter was down 1.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.49 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 4th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 18th were given a dividend of $1.64 per share. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.9%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, May 18th. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is 106.15%.

United Parcel Service Company Profile

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.