United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) Receives Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Brokerages

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) has been given a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” by the twenty-three analysts that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $151.24.

A number of equities analysts have commented on UPS shares. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Oppenheimer boosted their price objective on United Parcel Service from $140.00 to $146.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, October 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price objective on United Parcel Service from $165.00 to $162.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. StockNews.com upgraded United Parcel Service from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on United Parcel Service from $155.00 to $150.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th.

Insider Buying and Selling at United Parcel Service

In other United Parcel Service news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total transaction of $1,015,025.25. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 45,098 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,249,229.86. The trade was a 13.97 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of United Parcel Service

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Flavin Financial Services Inc. acquired a new stake in United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter valued at $1,485,000. Trust Point Inc. increased its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 26.3% in the fourth quarter. Trust Point Inc. now owns 5,132 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $647,000 after acquiring an additional 1,070 shares during the last quarter. Childress Capital Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 35.9% in the fourth quarter. Childress Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,538 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $446,000 after acquiring an additional 935 shares during the last quarter. Optas LLC increased its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 26.2% in the fourth quarter. Optas LLC now owns 2,198 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $277,000 after acquiring an additional 456 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Rice Partnership LLC increased its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 652.0% in the fourth quarter. Rice Partnership LLC now owns 15,039 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $1,896,000 after acquiring an additional 13,039 shares during the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

United Parcel Service Stock Down 0.5 %

Shares of United Parcel Service stock opened at $132.98 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $128.95 and a 200 day moving average price of $130.82. United Parcel Service has a fifty-two week low of $121.56 and a fifty-two week high of $161.35. The firm has a market cap of $113.48 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.09, a P/E/G ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 1.00.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The transportation company reported $1.76 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.63 by $0.13. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 37.38% and a net margin of 6.25%. The company had revenue of $22.20 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.10 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.57 earnings per share. United Parcel Service’s quarterly revenue was up 5.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that United Parcel Service will post 7.49 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 5th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 18th were issued a $1.63 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 18th. This represents a $6.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.90%. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is currently 98.49%.

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.