United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Stock Rating Upgraded by Baird R W

Baird R W upgraded shares of United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) to a strong-buy rating in a research note released on Wednesday, Zacks.com reports.

A number of other equities analysts also recently weighed in on UPS. Redburn Atlantic raised shares of United Parcel Service from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $180.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 3rd. Bank of America dropped their target price on United Parcel Service from $160.00 to $158.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 22nd. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on United Parcel Service from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Wednesday, March 27th. HSBC upgraded United Parcel Service from a hold rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $150.00 to $170.00 in a report on Thursday, April 25th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $144.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $154.95.

United Parcel Service Stock Up 1.4 %

Shares of United Parcel Service stock opened at $128.83 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.18. United Parcel Service has a 1 year low of $124.80 and a 1 year high of $189.65. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $137.64 and a 200 day moving average price of $145.59. The company has a market cap of $110.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.67, a P/E/G ratio of 1.74 and a beta of 0.98.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 23rd. The transportation company reported $1.79 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.99 by ($0.20). United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 35.27% and a net margin of 5.87%. The company had revenue of $21.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $22.17 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.54 earnings per share. United Parcel Service’s revenue for the quarter was down 1.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts expect that United Parcel Service will post 7.71 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 13th were issued a dividend of $1.63 per share. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.06%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 10th. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is 94.49%.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director William R. Johnson bought 5,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 25th. The stock was bought at an average price of $128.61 per share, for a total transaction of $643,050.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 5,160 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $663,627.60. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On United Parcel Service

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Tennessee Valley Asset Management Partners bought a new stake in United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Life Planning Partners Inc acquired a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Northwest Financial Advisors bought a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. TruNorth Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in United Parcel Service in the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Bourgeon Capital Management LLC bought a new position in United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Institutional investors own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

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.