United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Shares Up 2.1% - Should You Buy?

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report)'s share price was up 2.1% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $99.82 and last traded at $98.87. Approximately 1,661,423 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 65% from the average daily volume of 4,813,797 shares. The stock had previously closed at $96.84.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on UPS shares. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $166.00 to $147.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Robert W. Baird cut United Parcel Service from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and lowered their price target for the company from $160.00 to $130.00 in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Bank of America cut their price objective on United Parcel Service from $133.00 to $129.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, March 25th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on United Parcel Service from $156.00 to $153.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Finally, Loop Capital cut their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $126.41.

United Parcel Service Trading Down 1.1 %

The business's fifty day simple moving average is $108.58 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $121.48. 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 market capitalization of $83.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.48, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.10.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.52 by $0.23. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 39.13% and a net margin of 6.35%. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $2.47 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast 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 announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 18th were given a $1.64 dividend. This is a boost from United Parcel Service's previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.70%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 18th. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 97.04%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On United Parcel Service

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. IMG Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Generali Investments Management Co LLC acquired a new position in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter worth $26,000. Pinney & Scofield Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. IFS Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 232.3% during the 4th quarter. IFS Advisors LLC now owns 216 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC bought a new position in United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. 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.