United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Now Covered by Analysts at Citigroup

Citigroup initiated coverage on shares of United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) in a research report report published on Wednesday morning, Marketbeat reports. The firm issued a buy rating and a $162.00 target price on the transportation company’s stock.

Other equities research analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $170.00 to $160.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 24th. UBS Group lowered their target price on United Parcel Service from $175.00 to $159.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $144.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 24th. Barclays lowered their price objective on United Parcel Service from $145.00 to $120.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 24th. Finally, Baird R W upgraded United Parcel Service to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, United Parcel Service has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $150.86.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UPS opened at $133.02 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $113.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.28, a PEG ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 0.99. United Parcel Service has a twelve month low of $123.12 and a twelve month high of $163.82. The company has a quick ratio of 1.25, a current ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.18. The company has a 50 day moving average of $128.99 and a 200 day moving average of $137.29.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 23rd. The transportation company reported $1.79 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.99 by ($0.20). United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 35.27% and a net margin of 5.87%. The business had revenue of $21.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $22.17 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.54 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 1.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts expect that United Parcel Service will post 7.43 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 5th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 19th were issued a dividend of $1.63 per share. This represents a $6.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.90%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 19th. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is presently 94.49%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director William R. Johnson bought 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 25th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $128.61 per share, for a total transaction of $643,050.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 5,160 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $663,627.60. The trade was a 3,100.00 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Redwood Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 26.4% in the 4th quarter. Redwood Investment Management LLC now owns 15,247 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $2,397,000 after purchasing an additional 3,183 shares during the last quarter. Creative Planning raised its holdings in United Parcel Service by 40.5% during the 4th quarter. Creative Planning now owns 331,960 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $52,194,000 after buying an additional 95,743 shares during the period. Mango Investments LLC bought a new stake in United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter worth $4,184,000. Kingfisher Capital LLC boosted its stake in United Parcel Service by 606.6% during the fourth quarter. Kingfisher Capital LLC now owns 27,139 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $4,267,000 after buying an additional 23,298 shares during the period. Finally, Midland Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter worth $1,583,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

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.