United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Trading Up 0.4% – Here’s What Happened

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) shares were up 0.4% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $118.15 and last traded at $117.95. Approximately 541,705 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 88% from the average daily volume of 4,416,720 shares. The stock had previously closed at $117.47.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have issued reports on UPS. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $82.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Susquehanna reduced their price target 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. BMO Capital Markets raised shares of United Parcel Service from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $155.00 to $150.00 in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Evercore ISI raised their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Finally, Citigroup lowered their price objective on United Parcel Service from $158.00 to $149.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $138.09.

United Parcel Service Stock Down 0.3 %

The company’s fifty day moving average is $120.49 and its 200-day moving average is $127.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.17. The company has a market capitalization of $100.04 billion, a PE ratio of 17.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.94.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last released 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 return on equity of 39.13% and a net margin of 6.35%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.47 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were paid a $1.64 dividend. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.60%. This is a positive change from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 18th. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 97.04%.

Institutional Trading of United Parcel Service

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Chancellor Financial Group WB LP bought a new position in United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter worth approximately $300,000. 111 Capital purchased a new position in shares of United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter worth $975,000. Centaurus Financial Inc. raised its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 4.9% during the fourth quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 5,281 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $666,000 after purchasing an additional 248 shares during the last quarter. Wealthedge Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at $2,768,000. Finally, Aegis Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter valued at $352,000. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.