United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Stock Price Down 1.7%

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report)'s stock price fell 1.7% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $146.17 and last traded at $146.52. 506,459 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 88% from the average session volume of 4,288,507 shares. The stock had previously closed at $149.01.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on UPS shares. TD Cowen lowered their price target on United Parcel Service from $147.00 to $140.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 28th. Susquehanna reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $150.00 target price on shares of United Parcel Service in a research note on Wednesday, March 27th. Oppenheimer reissued an "outperform" rating and set a $153.00 target price on shares of United Parcel Service in a research report on Wednesday, March 27th. Argus cut shares of United Parcel Service from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, sixteen have given a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $165.61.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

The firm's fifty day moving average price is $149.64 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $151.64. The stock has a market capitalization of $123.52 billion, a PE ratio of 18.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a current ratio of 1.10, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.47 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.46 by $0.01. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 7.37% and a return on equity of 39.46%. The company had revenue of $24.92 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $25.40 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $3.62 earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 8.21 EPS for the current year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 8th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 20th were issued a $1.63 dividend. This is a boost from United Parcel Service's previous quarterly dividend of $1.62. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 16th. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.50%. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio is presently 83.70%.

Insider Buying and Selling at United Parcel Service

In other United Parcel Service news, Director Eva C. Boratto bought 1,400 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 2nd. The shares were purchased at an average price of $142.30 per share, for a total transaction of $199,220.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 1,400 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $199,220. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 0.13% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Pacific Center for Financial Services purchased a new position in United Parcel Service in the 1st quarter valued at $25,000. VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the second quarter worth $25,000. IMA Wealth Inc. raised its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 100.0% in the second quarter. IMA Wealth Inc. now owns 142 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. Worth Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of United Parcel Service in the first quarter worth about $27,000. Finally, Tennessee Valley Asset Management Partners acquired a new position in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.26% of the company's stock.

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.