United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Coverage Initiated by Analysts at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft

Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) in a research note released on Friday morning, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The brokerage issued a hold rating and a $119.00 target price on the transportation company’s stock.

Several other analysts have also weighed in on the stock. Baird R W lowered shares of United Parcel Service from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Raymond James dropped their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $155.00 to $145.00 and set a “strong-buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of 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. BMO Capital Markets raised shares of United Parcel Service from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and decreased their price target for the company from $155.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. Finally, Robert W. Baird cut shares of United Parcel Service from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and decreased their price target for the company from $160.00 to $130.00 in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $138.00.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

NYSE:UPS opened at $121.59 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $103.85 billion, a PE ratio of 17.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.98. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $121.73 and a 200 day moving average price of $127.78. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. United Parcel Service has a 12-month low of $109.40 and a 12-month high of $158.95.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share 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 quarter last year, the business earned $2.47 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were issued a $1.64 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 18th. This is a positive change from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.40%. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 97.04%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Parcel Service

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of UPS. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. raised its holdings in United Parcel Service by 5.7% in the third quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 62,953 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $8,583,000 after purchasing an additional 3,416 shares during the period. Impax Asset Management Group plc raised its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 22.4% during the third quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 335,306 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $45,716,000 after acquiring an additional 61,360 shares during the period. Graypoint LLC raised its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 82.0% during the third quarter. Graypoint LLC now owns 3,052 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $416,000 after acquiring an additional 1,375 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 4.3% during the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 829,280 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $113,064,000 after acquiring an additional 33,989 shares during the period. Finally, Keynote Financial Services LLC acquired a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the third quarter worth $496,000. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.