United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Shares Up 1.3% – Here’s What Happened

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)’s stock price shot up 1.3% during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $118.73 and last traded at $118.45. 1,115,917 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 82% from the average session volume of 6,350,564 shares. The stock had previously closed at $116.89.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Loop Capital lowered their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $82.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Baird R W lowered United Parcel Service from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Robert W. Baird downgraded United Parcel Service from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $160.00 to $130.00 in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $166.00 to $147.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, United Parcel Service presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $140.73.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

The stock’s fifty day moving average is $122.64 and its 200-day moving average is $128.19. The stock has a market capitalization of $100.46 billion, a PE ratio of 17.40, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.14.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.47 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be paid a $1.64 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is 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 5.58%. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is currently 97.04%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds 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 during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Generali Investments Management Co LLC acquired a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at about $26,000. IFS Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 232.3% in the 4th quarter. IFS Advisors LLC now owns 216 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 151 shares during the period. Pinney & Scofield Inc. acquired a new position in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Finally, Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

United Parcel Service Company Profile

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.