United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Price Target Lowered to $112.00 at Citigroup

Key Points

• Citigroup has reduced the price target for United Parcel Service (UPS) from $114.00 to $112.00, while maintaining a "buy" rating, implying a potential upside of 34.58% from the current stock price.
• Multiple analysts have expressed contrasting views, with BNP Paribas upgrading UPS to "neutral" while others have lowered their price objectives, leading to a current average target price of $109.31.
• UPS shares recently traded at $83.22 with a notable decrease in quarterly earnings, reporting $1.55 EPS compared to an expected $1.56 EPS, alongside a revenue decrease of 2.7% year-on-year.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) had its target price cut by analysts at Citigroup from $114.00 to $112.00 in a research note issued on Monday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a "buy" rating on the transportation company's stock. Citigroup's target price would suggest a potential upside of 34.58% from the company's current price.

A number of other analysts also recently commented on the company. BNP Paribas Exane upgraded United Parcel Service from an "underperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $100.00 price objective for the company in a report on Thursday, July 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on United Parcel Service from $98.00 to $91.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price objective on United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $88.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 2nd. BNP Paribas upgraded United Parcel Service to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, July 3rd. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded United Parcel Service from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Saturday, September 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Hold rating and four have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $109.31.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UPS traded up $0.35 during trading on Monday, hitting $83.22. 2,737,092 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,728,949. United Parcel Service has a 12-month low of $82.00 and a 12-month high of $145.01. The company has a current ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.51. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $85.74 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $94.22. The company has a market cap of $70.54 billion, a PE ratio of 12.38, a P/E/G ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 1.10.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The transportation company reported $1.55 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.56 by ($0.01). United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 39.61% and a net margin of 6.34%.The business had revenue of $21.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $20.90 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.79 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was down 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that United Parcel Service will post 7.95 EPS for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Christiana Smith Shi purchased 500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, August 22nd. The shares were bought at an average price of $88.17 per share, for a total transaction of $44,085.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director owned 500 shares of the company's stock, valued at $44,085. This trade represents a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director William R. Johnson acquired 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 31st. The shares were bought at an average price of $86.50 per share, for a total transaction of $432,500.00. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 10,160 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $878,840. This trade represents a 96.90% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders have acquired 17,182 shares of company stock valued at $1,477,382 over the last quarter. Insiders own 0.13% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Cornerstone Wealth Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 3.9% in the second quarter. Cornerstone Wealth Group LLC now owns 2,557 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $258,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. Bangor Savings Bank grew its position in United Parcel Service by 1.9% during the second quarter. Bangor Savings Bank now owns 5,413 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $546,000 after buying an additional 101 shares during the period. First Dallas Securities Inc. boosted its position in United Parcel Service by 0.9% during the first quarter. First Dallas Securities Inc. now owns 11,421 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $1,256,000 after purchasing an additional 102 shares during the period. TCV Trust & Wealth Management Inc. boosted its position in United Parcel Service by 1.4% during the first quarter. TCV Trust & Wealth Management Inc. now owns 7,544 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $830,000 after purchasing an additional 103 shares during the period. Finally, Fortis Capital Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 3.4% in the first quarter. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,185 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $350,000 after acquiring an additional 104 shares during the period. 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.

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