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

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)’s stock price shot up 0.4% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $110.20 and last traded at $110.08. 1,246,988 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 73% from the average session volume of 4,648,487 shares. The stock had previously closed at $109.66.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UPS has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $166.00 to $147.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Susquehanna lowered their price target on United Parcel Service from $140.00 to $130.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Citigroup cut their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $158.00 to $149.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. 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 target price for the company. Finally, Loop Capital cut their price target 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. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, United Parcel Service currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $136.26.

United Parcel Service Trading Up 0.4 %

The company has a market capitalization of $94.04 billion, a PE ratio of 16.29, a PEG ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a current ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $118.52 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $126.40.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates 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 period in the prior year, the company earned $2.47 earnings per share. On average, analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 18th were paid a $1.64 dividend. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.96%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 18th. This is a positive change from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is 97.04%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Public Sector Pension Investment Board lifted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 14.5% during the 3rd quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 32,289 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $4,402,000 after buying an additional 4,100 shares during the last quarter. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 69.0% in the third quarter. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 19,068 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $2,591,000 after purchasing an additional 7,786 shares during the period. Encompass More Asset Management increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 26.1% during the third quarter. Encompass More Asset Management now owns 2,040 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $278,000 after purchasing an additional 422 shares during the last quarter. Semmax Financial Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 4.5% during the third quarter. Semmax Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 24,923 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $3,243,000 after purchasing an additional 1,065 shares during the period. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC lifted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 397.7% in the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 214 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 171 shares during the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.