QRG Capital Management Inc. Grows Stock Holdings in Ultrapar Participações S.A. (NYSE:UGP)

QRG Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Ultrapar Participações S.A. (NYSE:UGP) by 38.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 20,609 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after purchasing an additional 5,687 shares during the period. QRG Capital Management Inc.’s holdings in Ultrapar Participações were worth $54,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Freedom Investment Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Ultrapar Participações during the 3rd quarter worth $48,000. Walleye Capital LLC raised its stake in Ultrapar Participações by 41.5% during the 3rd quarter. Walleye Capital LLC now owns 36,299 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $141,000 after acquiring an additional 10,654 shares in the last quarter. Aigen Investment Management LP raised its stake in Ultrapar Participações by 19.4% during the 3rd quarter. Aigen Investment Management LP now owns 38,120 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $148,000 after acquiring an additional 6,205 shares in the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. raised its stake in Ultrapar Participações by 72.4% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 57,100 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $150,000 after acquiring an additional 23,976 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Metis Global Partners LLC raised its stake in Ultrapar Participações by 33.5% during the 3rd quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 40,340 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $157,000 after acquiring an additional 10,119 shares in the last quarter. 3.58% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Ultrapar Participações Stock Up 2.0 %

Shares of NYSE UGP opened at $2.87 on Friday. Ultrapar Participações S.A. has a 12-month low of $2.53 and a 12-month high of $5.86. The company has a market capitalization of $3.20 billion, a PE ratio of 6.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 1.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 1.57 and a quick ratio of 1.11. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $2.79 and its two-hundred day moving average is $3.31.

Ultrapar Participações Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 10th will be given a $0.0774 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 3.8%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 10th. Ultrapar Participações’s dividend payout ratio is presently 33.33%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have commented on UGP shares. Hsbc Global Res upgraded shares of Ultrapar Participações from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 17th. HSBC upgraded shares of Ultrapar Participações from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 17th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Ultrapar Participações from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 13th. Scotiabank raised shares of Ultrapar Participações to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, December 27th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Ultrapar Participações from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $4.10 to $3.20 in a report on Friday, January 31st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Ultrapar Participações currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $3.20.

Ultrapar Participações Company Profile

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.