Universal Logistics (NASDAQ:ULH) Sees Unusually-High Trading Volume - Should You Buy?

Key Points

• Unusually-high trading volume: 128,470 shares changed hands (up 144% from the prior session) and the stock last traded at $23.55 versus a prior close of $24.33.
• Analyst opinions are mixed — Zacks upgraded to a "strong-buy" while Weiss Ratings remains "sell", leaving an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $20.00.
• Quarterly results beat expectations: Universal reported $0.14 EPS versus a ($0.05) estimate and $385.43M in revenue, and recently paid a $0.105 quarterly dividend (about a 1.8% yield).

Shares of Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:ULH - Get Free Report) saw an uptick in trading volume on Wednesday . 128,470 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 144% from the previous session's volume of 52,733 shares.The stock last traded at $23.55 and had previously closed at $24.33.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on ULH. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Universal Logistics from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, March 17th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Universal Logistics from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, March 14th. Weiss Ratings restated a "sell (d)" rating on shares of Universal Logistics in a report on Friday, March 27th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on shares of Universal Logistics from $17.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $20.00.

Universal Logistics Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $630.74 million, a P/E ratio of -11.13 and a beta of 0.71. The firm's fifty day moving average is $19.34 and its 200 day moving average is $17.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a current ratio of 1.20.

Universal Logistics (NASDAQ:ULH - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, March 13th. The transportation company reported $0.14 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.05) by $0.19. The company had revenue of $385.43 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $376.10 million. Universal Logistics had a negative net margin of 3.64% and a positive return on equity of 4.13%. As a group, analysts predict that Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc. will post 1.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Logistics Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 3rd. Investors of record on Monday, March 23rd were issued a dividend of $0.105 per share. This represents a $0.42 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.8%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 23rd. Universal Logistics's dividend payout ratio is presently -19.53%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Logistics

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ULH. State of Alaska Department of Revenue bought a new position in Universal Logistics during the 3rd quarter valued at about $31,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its stake in Universal Logistics by 102.3% in the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 1,428 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 722 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC grew its stake in Universal Logistics by 403.5% in the 2nd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 2,130 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $54,000 after acquiring an additional 1,707 shares in the last quarter. AlphaQuest LLC bought a new position in Universal Logistics in the 3rd quarter worth about $102,000. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company MN grew its stake in Universal Logistics by 46.2% in the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 7,579 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $115,000 after acquiring an additional 2,396 shares in the last quarter. 25.50% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Universal Logistics Company Profile

Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc is a diversified, asset-light third-party logistics provider offering transportation and supply chain solutions across North America and around the globe. Its service portfolio encompasses truckload, less-than-truckload, intermodal, and specialized freight services, supported by dedicated brokerage, warehousing, and distribution management capabilities.

Originally incorporated as Universal Truckload Services, Inc, the company has evolved beyond its core truckload heritage to a one-stop logistics platform.

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