Zacks Research Upgrades Universal Logistics (NASDAQ:ULH) to "Strong-Buy"

Key Points

• Zacks Research upgraded Universal Logistics from “hold” to “strong buy,” though analyst views remain mixed: MarketBeat’s average rating is “hold,” with a $15 target price.
• Universal Logistics reported quarterly EPS of $0.69, beating the $0.32 consensus estimate, and revenue of $394.05 million, above expectations of $390 million.
• The stock opened at $29.47 and has traded between $11.73 and $33.87 over the past year. Institutional investors own 25.5% of the company’s shares.

Universal Logistics (NASDAQ:ULH - Get Free Report) was upgraded by investment analysts at Zacks Research from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, Zacks reports.

A number of other analysts also recently commented on ULH. Weiss Ratings reissued a "sell (d)" rating on shares of Universal Logistics in a report on Monday, September 21st. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Universal Logistics from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, August 15th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus dropped their target price on shares of Universal Logistics from $17.00 to $15.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $15.00.

Universal Logistics Price Performance

Universal Logistics stock opened at $29.47 on Wednesday. Universal Logistics has a one year low of $11.73 and a one year high of $33.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a current ratio of 1.20. The business has a fifty day moving average of $18.71 and a two-hundred day moving average of $17.64. The company has a market cap of $777.12 million, a P/E ratio of 38.05 and a beta of 0.69.

Universal Logistics (NASDAQ:ULH - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 29th. The transportation company reported $0.69 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.32 by $0.37. The business had revenue of $394.05 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $390.00 million. Universal Logistics had a net margin of 2.92% and a return on equity of 4.11%. As a group, analysts predict that Universal Logistics will post 1.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Logistics

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Empowered Funds LLC acquired a new position in shares of Universal Logistics in the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,423,000. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Logistics during the 2nd quarter worth about $8,082,000. Deutsche Bank AG purchased a new position in Universal Logistics in the second quarter valued at approximately $75,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp purchased a new position in Universal Logistics in the second quarter valued at approximately $2,770,000. Finally, Quantinno Capital Management LP raised its holdings in Universal Logistics by 118.9% in the first quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP now owns 37,766 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $798,000 after buying an additional 20,511 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 25.50% of the company's stock.

About Universal Logistics

Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc provides transportation and logistics services throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. The company serves automotive, industrial, retail and other commercial customers with customized supply-chain solutions designed to move freight and support manufacturing and distribution operations.

Its services include contract logistics, dedicated transportation, truckload and intermodal transportation, freight brokerage, drayage, and value-added services.

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