United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Stock Price Up 0.2% - Should You Buy?

Shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) were up 0.2% on Thursday . The company traded as high as $99.93 and last traded at $99.83. Approximately 852,811 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 83% from the average daily volume of 5,041,182 shares. The stock had previously closed at $99.65.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on UPS. StockNews.com lowered shares of United Parcel Service from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 7th. Loop Capital lowered their target price on United Parcel Service from $115.00 to $105.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. HSBC downgraded United Parcel Service from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and set a $105.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an "equal weight" rating and set a $98.00 target price (down from $120.00) on shares of United Parcel Service in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on United Parcel Service in a report on Friday, March 7th. They set a "hold" rating and a $119.00 target price on the stock. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $120.87.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $85.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.23. 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 business has a fifty day simple moving average of $103.07 and a 200 day simple moving average of $118.19.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The transportation company reported $1.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.38 by $0.11. The firm had revenue of $21.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.25 billion. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.35% and a return on equity of 39.13%. The business's revenue for the quarter was down .9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.43 EPS. On average, analysts expect that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 5th. Investors of record on Monday, May 19th will be paid a $1.64 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 19th. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.56%. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio is 95.63%.

Institutional Trading of United Parcel Service

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Pacific Sage Partners LLC raised its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 4.8% in the fourth quarter. Pacific Sage Partners LLC now owns 1,677 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $212,000 after buying an additional 77 shares in the last quarter. Quent Capital LLC lifted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 16.7% in the 4th quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 558 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $70,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares during the period. Altus Wealth Group LLC raised its holdings in United Parcel Service by 4.6% in the fourth quarter. Altus Wealth Group LLC now owns 2,022 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $255,000 after purchasing an additional 89 shares in the last quarter. Empirical Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Empirical Asset Management LLC now owns 12,036 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $1,518,000 after buying an additional 93 shares during the period. Finally, Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 3.8% in the fourth quarter. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,559 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $323,000 after acquiring an additional 94 shares during the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.

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