United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) Shares Bought by Birch Capital Management LLC

Birch Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) by 1.8% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 34,305 shares of the transportation company’s stock after buying an additional 591 shares during the quarter. United Parcel Service accounts for 3.7% of Birch Capital Management LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 6th largest holding. Birch Capital Management LLC’s holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $6,149,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UPS. Pacific Center for Financial Services purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in United Parcel Service during the first quarter worth approximately $27,000. Dark Forest Capital Management LP acquired a new position in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter worth approximately $31,000. Carderock Capital Management Inc. purchased a new position in United Parcel Service during the first quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, Centerpoint Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 205.0% during the 1st quarter. Centerpoint Advisors LLC now owns 183 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 123 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.45% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other United Parcel Service news, insider Nando Cesarone sold 22,825 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $171.70, for a total transaction of $3,919,052.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 1 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $171.70. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.12% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UPS has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Barclays lifted their target price on United Parcel Service from $172.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on United Parcel Service from $181.00 to $186.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of United Parcel Service to $203.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 26th. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $200.00 to $180.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, September 12th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group dropped their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $204.00 to $194.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have given a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, United Parcel Service presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $186.89.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

UPS stock opened at $158.44 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 1.32 and a current ratio of 1.32. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $175.33 and its two-hundred day moving average is $178.27. The stock has a market capitalization of $135.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.74, a PEG ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 1.09. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 1 year low of $154.87 and a 1 year high of $197.80.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The transportation company reported $2.54 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.49 by $0.05. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 51.28% and a net margin of 10.41%. The company had revenue of $22.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $23.04 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $3.29 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 10.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 9.46 EPS for the current year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 14th were paid a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 11th. This represents a $6.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.09%. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is 56.20%.

United Parcel Service 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 letters, documents, small packages, and palletized freight through air and ground services in the United States.