ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE:ZTO) Given Consensus Rating of "Buy" by Analysts

Key Points

• ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. has received a consensus rating of "Buy" from five research firms, with an average 12-month price objective of $22.36.
• Recent analyst reports include Morgan Stanley setting a price objective of $24.20, while Wall Street Zen downgraded the stock from "buy" to "hold".
• The company announced a semi-annual dividend of $0.29 per share, representing a yield of 330.0%, to be paid on October 31st.

Shares of ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE:ZTO - Get Free Report) have received a consensus rating of "Buy" from the five brokerages that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $22.36.

A number of analysts have commented on ZTO shares. Morgan Stanley set a $24.20 price objective on ZTO Express (Cayman) in a report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Citigroup decreased their price objective on ZTO Express (Cayman) from $26.40 to $22.60 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised ZTO Express (Cayman) from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $23.00 to $21.00 in a report on Thursday, May 29th. Bank of America boosted their price objective on ZTO Express (Cayman) from $19.00 to $22.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 20th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered ZTO Express (Cayman) from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, May 24th.

ZTO Express (Cayman) Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:ZTO traded up $0.17 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $18.36. 1,726,591 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,947,182. ZTO Express has a 12 month low of $16.34 and a 12 month high of $27.50. The company has a market cap of $10.99 billion, a PE ratio of 11.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 12.16 and a beta of -0.15. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $19.10 and a 200-day moving average price of $18.81.

ZTO Express (Cayman) Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 30th will be paid a $0.29 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 330.0%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 30th. ZTO Express (Cayman)'s payout ratio is presently 45.95%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On ZTO Express (Cayman)

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its stake in shares of ZTO Express (Cayman) by 3.8% in the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 32,424 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $576,000 after buying an additional 1,177 shares during the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of ZTO Express (Cayman) by 61.4% in the 2nd quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 2,021 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 769 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. raised its holdings in shares of ZTO Express (Cayman) by 76.4% in the 2nd quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 27,983 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $497,000 after purchasing an additional 12,120 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP raised its holdings in shares of ZTO Express (Cayman) by 29.3% in the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 468,489 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $8,316,000 after purchasing an additional 106,180 shares during the period. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of ZTO Express (Cayman) by 156.2% in the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,489 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $62,000 after purchasing an additional 2,127 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 41.65% of the company's stock.

About ZTO Express (Cayman)

ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc provides express delivery and other value-added logistics services in the People's Republic of China. It offers freight forwarding services; and delivery services for e-commerce and traditional merchants, and other express service users. The company was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Shanghai, the People's Republic of China.