Ultrapar Participações (NYSE:UGP) Downgraded by StockNews.com to “Hold”

Ultrapar Participações (NYSE:UGP) was downgraded by equities researchers at StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report issued on Saturday.

Several other equities analysts have also recently commented on UGP. Hsbc Global Res raised Ultrapar Participações from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, July 19th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their target price on Ultrapar Participações from $5.90 to $5.20 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, July 23rd. HSBC upgraded shares of Ultrapar Participações from a “reduce” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, July 19th. Finally, Citigroup upgraded shares of Ultrapar Participações from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, June 14th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Ultrapar Participações presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $4.25.

Ultrapar Participações Trading Down 5.4 %

Shares of UGP stock opened at $3.85 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.55, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. Ultrapar Participações has a 1 year low of $3.39 and a 1 year high of $6.34. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $4.15 and its 200 day simple moving average is $4.64. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 1.61.

Ultrapar Participações (NYSE:UGP) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 7th. The oil and gas company reported $0.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.08. Ultrapar Participações had a net margin of 2.21% and a return on equity of 20.24%. The company had revenue of $6.21 billion for the quarter. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Ultrapar Participações will post 0.34 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Assetmark Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Ultrapar Participações in the 4th quarter worth about $46,000. D Orazio & Associates Inc. acquired a new position in Ultrapar Participações in the first quarter valued at about $66,000. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. bought a new stake in Ultrapar Participações during the first quarter worth about $80,000. Cutter & CO Brokerage Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Ultrapar Participações during the second quarter worth approximately $57,000. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. raised its stake in shares of Ultrapar Participações by 567.5% in the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 15,833 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $62,000 after acquiring an additional 13,461 shares during the last quarter. 3.58% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Ultrapar Participações

Ultrapar Participações SA, through its subsidiaries, operates in the energy and infrastructure business in Brazil. The company distributes liquefied petroleum gas to residential, commercial, and industrial consumers, in addition to renewable electricity and compressed natural gas. It also operates in the distribution and marketing of gasoline, ethanol, diesel, fuel oil, kerosene, natural gas for vehicles, and lubricants; and holds AmPm convenience stores and provides JetOil lubricant services.