United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Trading 1.5% Higher – Should You Buy?

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)’s share price shot up 1.5% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $97.24 and last traded at $96.77. 1,795,741 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 65% from the average session volume of 5,117,240 shares. The stock had previously closed at $95.37.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UPS has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Truist Financial decreased their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $140.00 to $130.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Bank of America boosted their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $111.00 to $115.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. Robert W. Baird lowered shares of United Parcel Service from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and reduced their price target for the company from $160.00 to $130.00 in a report on Friday, January 31st. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $145.00 to $124.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Finally, Galvan Research reduced their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $147.00 to $133.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $120.26.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $99.93 and its 200 day moving average price is $115.95. The firm has a market capitalization of $82.22 billion, a PE ratio of 14.36, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a current ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The transportation company reported $1.49 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.38 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $21.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.25 billion. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.35% and a return on equity of 39.13%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down .9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.43 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 19th will be issued a $1.64 dividend. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.76%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, May 19th. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 95.63%.

Institutional Trading of United Parcel Service

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. IMG Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Generali Investments Management Co LLC acquired a new position in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Graybill Wealth Management LTD. acquired a new position in shares of United Parcel Service in the 1st quarter valued at $26,000. Pinney & Scofield Inc. acquired a new position in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Finally, Citizens National Bank Trust Department lifted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 525.0% in the 1st quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department now owns 250 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 210 shares during the period. 60.26% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.