United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Trading 1.3% Higher - Here's What Happened

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) rose 1.3% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $97.40 and last traded at $97.55. Approximately 649,851 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 86% from the average daily volume of 4,811,096 shares. The stock had previously closed at $96.25.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently commented on UPS shares. Citigroup cut their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $149.00 to $123.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. Evercore ISI raised their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an "in-line" rating in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Wolfe Research lowered their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $133.00 to $113.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Susquehanna lowered their price objective on United Parcel Service from $130.00 to $120.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. Finally, Bank of America cut their price target on United Parcel Service from $133.00 to $129.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, March 25th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $126.41.

United Parcel Service Trading Down 1.1 %

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 stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $108.58 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $121.56. The firm has a market capitalization of $83.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.10.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.52 by $0.23. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.35% and a return on equity of 39.13%. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.47 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 18th were issued a $1.64 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 18th. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.70%. This is a positive change from United Parcel Service's previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio is currently 97.04%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On United Parcel Service

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 0.6% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 65,136,394 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $8,213,699,000 after purchasing an additional 370,705 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 6.1% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 23,264,665 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $2,933,674,000 after acquiring an additional 1,337,058 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in United Parcel Service by 2.7% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 15,704,334 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $1,979,695,000 after acquiring an additional 414,710 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 15.6% in the fourth quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 10,979,909 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $1,384,567,000 after purchasing an additional 1,484,452 shares in the last quarter. Finally, FMR LLC lifted its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 2.5% in the fourth quarter. FMR LLC now owns 10,895,828 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $1,373,964,000 after acquiring an additional 268,278 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.26% of the company's stock.

About United Parcel Service

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.