United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Sets New 12-Month Low After Analyst Downgrade

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)’s stock price hit a new 52-week low during trading on Monday after Barclays lowered their price target on the stock from $100.00 to $90.00. Barclays currently has an underweight rating on the stock. United Parcel Service traded as low as $108.30 and last traded at $109.33, with a volume of 623353 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $109.66.

Several other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports on UPS. StockNews.com upgraded United Parcel Service from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. UBS Group dropped their price target on United Parcel Service from $170.00 to $141.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Loop Capital cut their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Baird R W downgraded United Parcel Service from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on shares of United Parcel Service in a report on Friday, March 7th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $119.00 price objective on the stock. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $136.26.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On United Parcel Service

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in UPS. Chancellor Financial Group WB LP acquired a new position in United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $300,000. 111 Capital acquired a new position in shares of United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at $975,000. Centaurus Financial Inc. boosted 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 valued at $666,000 after acquiring an additional 248 shares during the period. Wealthedge Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter worth about $2,768,000. Finally, Aegis Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter worth about $352,000. 60.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

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 stock has a market capitalization of $93.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.94. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $118.52 and its 200-day simple moving average is $126.40.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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 prior year, the firm earned $2.47 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were issued a dividend of $1.64 per share. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.97%. 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 97.04%.

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.