Calton & Associates Inc. Takes Position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

Calton & Associates Inc. acquired a new stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 1,983 shares of the transportation company’s stock, valued at approximately $295,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Tennessee Valley Asset Management Partners purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at about $26,000. Life Planning Partners Inc purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. Northwest Financial Advisors purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at about $31,000. Finally, Security National Bank purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at about $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

United Parcel Service Trading Up 0.8 %

NYSE:UPS opened at $136.85 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.10. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a one year low of $132.90 and a one year high of $192.98. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $141.71 and its 200 day simple moving average is $148.61. The stock has a market cap of $117.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.01.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 23rd. The transportation company reported $1.43 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.33 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $21.70 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.84 billion. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 37.42% and a net margin of 6.60%. United Parcel Service’s quarterly revenue was down 5.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.20 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 8.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 30th. Investors of record on Monday, May 13th were issued a $1.63 dividend. This represents a $6.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.76%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 10th. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is currently 94.49%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have issued reports on UPS. Wells Fargo & Company began coverage on United Parcel Service in a research report on Friday, June 7th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $156.00 price target for the company. Bank of America boosted their price target on United Parcel Service from $157.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 24th. Evercore ISI reduced their price objective on United Parcel Service from $157.00 to $145.00 and set an “in-line” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, June 24th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on United Parcel Service from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 27th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on United Parcel Service from $165.00 to $169.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $164.55.

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.