United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Trading 0.2% Higher – Time to Buy?

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)’s stock price shot up 0.2% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $118.71 and last traded at $118.25. 619,857 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 86% from the average session volume of 4,419,494 shares. The stock had previously closed at $118.06.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UPS has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Loop Capital lowered their target price on United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Susquehanna dropped their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $140.00 to $130.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their target price 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. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $128.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on United Parcel Service from $135.00 to $120.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $138.09.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $120.79 and a 200 day moving average price of $127.32. 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 firm has a market cap of $100.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.94.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.52 by $0.23. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.35% and a return on equity of 39.13%. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.47 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were paid a $1.64 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 18th. This is a positive change from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.56%. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is presently 97.04%.

Institutional Trading of United Parcel Service

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. IMG Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Generali Investments Management Co LLC bought a new position in shares of United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. IFS Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 232.3% during the fourth quarter. IFS Advisors LLC now owns 216 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 151 shares during the last quarter. Pinney & Scofield Inc. bought a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter valued at about $27,000. Finally, Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

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.