United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Trading Down 1.4%

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report)'s share price traded down 1.4% during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $142.71 and last traded at $142.89. 4,197,107 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 7% from the average session volume of 4,529,379 shares. The stock had previously closed at $144.85.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UPS has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Robert W. Baird raised United Parcel Service from a "neutral" rating to an "outperform" rating and upped their price target for the company from $165.00 to $170.00 in a report on Friday, February 16th. Raymond James lowered their price target on United Parcel Service from $185.00 to $175.00 and set a "strong-buy" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on United Parcel Service from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on United Parcel Service from $154.00 to $150.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 9th. Finally, Susquehanna reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $150.00 price target on shares of United Parcel Service in a report on Wednesday, March 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, sixteen have given a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $165.61.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 1.10. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $149.65 and a 200 day moving average price of $151.34. The firm has a market cap of $121.29 billion, a PE ratio of 18.26, a PEG ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 1.05.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.47 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.46 by $0.01. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 39.46% and a net margin of 7.37%. The business had revenue of $24.92 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $25.40 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $3.62 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was down 7.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts expect that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 8.2 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 8th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 20th were given a $1.63 dividend. This is a boost from United Parcel Service's previous quarterly dividend of $1.62. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 16th. This represents a $6.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.58%. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio is presently 83.70%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other United Parcel Service news, Director Eva C. Boratto acquired 1,400 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, February 2nd. The stock was purchased at an average price of $142.30 per share, for a total transaction of $199,220.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 1,400 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $199,220. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of UPS. OFI Invest Asset Management acquired a new stake in United Parcel Service in the third quarter valued at $25,000. IMA Wealth Inc. grew its holdings in 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 purchasing an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. Pacific Center for Financial Services acquired a new stake in United Parcel Service in the first quarter valued at $25,000. Tennessee Valley Asset Management Partners acquired a new stake in United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. Finally, Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in United Parcel Service in the first quarter valued at $27,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors 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.