United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Shares Up 1.3% – Time to Buy?

Shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) traded up 1.3% on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $118.73 and last traded at $118.45. 1,115,917 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 82% from the average session volume of 6,350,564 shares. The stock had previously closed at $116.89.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on UPS. Susquehanna dropped their price objective on United Parcel Service from $140.00 to $130.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $128.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Argus raised shares of United Parcel Service from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. UBS Group dropped their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $170.00 to $141.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Wolfe Research raised shares of United Parcel Service from a “peer perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $147.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $140.73.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

The firm has a market cap of $101.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.60, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.98. The company has a fifty day moving average of $122.41 and a 200-day moving average of $128.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.14.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.52 by $0.23. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.35% and a return on equity of 39.13%. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.47 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be paid a $1.64 dividend. This is a positive change from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 18th. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.51%. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 97.04%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On United Parcel Service

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. IMG Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Generali Investments Management Co LLC bought a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth $26,000. IFS Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 232.3% in the 4th quarter. IFS Advisors LLC now owns 216 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 151 shares during the last quarter. Pinney & Scofield Inc. bought a new position in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at about $27,000. Finally, Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

About United Parcel Service

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.