United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Stock Price Down 0.6% After Analyst Downgrade

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)’s stock price was down 0.6% on Tuesday after Loop Capital lowered their price target on the stock from $120.00 to $115.00. Loop Capital currently has a hold rating on the stock. United Parcel Service traded as low as $110.21 and last traded at $110.63. Approximately 2,453,289 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 64% from the average daily volume of 6,834,080 shares. The stock had previously closed at $111.29.

Several other brokerages have also recently weighed in on UPS. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Barclays reiterated an “underweight” rating and set a $120.00 target price on shares of United Parcel Service in a research report on Monday, October 21st. Susquehanna reduced their price target on United Parcel Service from $140.00 to $130.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Robert W. Baird cut United Parcel Service from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $160.00 to $130.00 in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, 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. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $140.73.

Insider Transactions at United Parcel Service

In other news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of United Parcel Service stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total value of $1,015,025.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 45,098 shares in the company, valued at approximately $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 can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of United Parcel Service

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. AMF Tjanstepension AB raised its position in United Parcel Service by 39.7% in the 3rd quarter. AMF Tjanstepension AB now owns 108,360 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $14,793,000 after purchasing an additional 30,815 shares during the period. Czech National Bank lifted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 7.4% during the 3rd quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 149,220 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $20,345,000 after acquiring an additional 10,227 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 5.3% during the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 5,680 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $774,000 after acquiring an additional 286 shares during the period. Callan Family Office LLC grew its position in United Parcel Service by 23.2% in the 3rd quarter. Callan Family Office LLC now owns 1,854 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $253,000 after acquiring an additional 349 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 0.7% in the third quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 22,522 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $3,071,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares during the period. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $127.32 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $129.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $95.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.56, a P/E/G ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 0.98.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share 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 quarter last year, the business posted $2.47 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 8.61 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be paid a $1.64 dividend. 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 yield of 5.86%. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is 96.45%.

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.