United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Trading Up 0.4% – Here’s Why

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)’s share price was up 0.4% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $126.03 and last traded at $125.76. Approximately 605,366 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 86% from the average daily volume of 4,190,355 shares. The stock had previously closed at $125.32.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have issued reports on UPS shares. Argus upgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Oppenheimer boosted their price target on United Parcel Service from $140.00 to $146.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, October 28th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on United Parcel Service from $151.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price target on United Parcel Service from $165.00 to $162.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $134.00 to $142.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $151.10.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $131.02 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $131.75. The firm has a market cap of $107.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.05, a PEG ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 0.98.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The transportation company reported $1.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.63 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $22.20 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.10 billion. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.25% and a return on equity of 37.38%. The firm’s revenue was up 5.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.57 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.48 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 5th. Investors of record on Monday, November 18th were issued a dividend of $1.63 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 18th. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.17%. United Parcel Service’s payout ratio is presently 98.49%.

Insider Buying and Selling at United Parcel Service

In other news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 45,098 shares in the company, valued at $6,249,229.86. This represents a 13.97 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 4.3% in the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 829,280 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $113,064,000 after purchasing an additional 33,989 shares during the period. Syntax Research Inc. raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 3,770.3% in the third quarter. Syntax Research Inc. now owns 3,909 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $533,000 after buying an additional 3,808 shares during the period. Logan Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 11.9% in the third quarter. Logan Capital Management Inc. now owns 87,069 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $11,871,000 after buying an additional 9,250 shares during the last quarter. Inspire Trust Co. N.A. boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 27.0% during the 3rd quarter. Inspire Trust Co. N.A. now owns 24,500 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $3,340,000 after acquiring an additional 5,209 shares during the period. Finally, Peapack Gladstone Financial Corp increased its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 15.7% during the 3rd quarter. Peapack Gladstone Financial Corp now owns 83,104 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $11,330,000 after acquiring an additional 11,305 shares during the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by 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.