United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Stock Price Up 2% After Analyst Upgrade

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) shares shot up 2% on Thursday after Citigroup raised their price target on the stock from $122.00 to $127.00. Citigroup currently has a buy rating on the stock. United Parcel Service traded as high as $104.49 and last traded at $104.24. 946,077 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 82% from the average session volume of 5,232,063 shares. The stock had previously closed at $102.15.

Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Hsbc Global Res lowered shares of United Parcel Service from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Raymond James Financial lowered their target price on United Parcel Service from $145.00 to $130.00 and set a "strong-buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on United Parcel Service from $145.00 to $124.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. Barclays lowered their price target on United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $90.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, March 31st. Finally, Oppenheimer cut their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $126.00 to $114.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have issued a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, United Parcel Service presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $119.13.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Parcel Service

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. IMG Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Generali Investments Management Co LLC acquired a new position in shares of United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Graybill Wealth Management LTD. bought a new position in United Parcel Service during the first quarter worth $26,000. Pinney & Scofield Inc. acquired a new stake in United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Finally, Citizens National Bank Trust Department increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 525.0% in the first quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department now owns 250 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 210 shares in the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

United Parcel Service Stock Up 0.7%

The stock has a market cap of $87.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 1.21. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $99.16 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $109.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 1.09.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The transportation company reported $1.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.38 by $0.11. The firm had revenue of $21.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $21.25 billion. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.44% and a return on equity of 40.15%. The business's revenue was down .9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.43 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 5th. Investors of record on Monday, May 19th were issued a dividend of $1.64 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, May 19th. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.38%. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 95.63%.

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.