United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Given New $82.00 Price Target at Morgan Stanley

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) had its price objective reduced by Morgan Stanley from $100.00 to $82.00 in a research report report published on Friday,Benzinga reports. Morgan Stanley currently has an underweight rating on the transportation company’s stock.

UPS has been the subject of several other reports. Wolfe Research upgraded United Parcel Service from a “peer perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $147.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Barclays reissued an “underweight” rating and issued a $120.00 target price on shares of United Parcel Service in a research note on Monday, October 21st. Evercore ISI increased their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Oppenheimer raised their target price on United Parcel Service from $140.00 to $146.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, October 28th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price target on United Parcel Service from $165.00 to $162.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $141.95.

United Parcel Service Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UPS opened at $114.19 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $97.45 billion, a PE ratio of 17.25, a PEG ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a current ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20. United Parcel Service has a 1-year low of $109.62 and a 1-year high of $158.95. The business’s 50 day moving average is $128.31 and its 200-day moving average is $130.28.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.52 by $0.23. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.25% and a return on equity of 37.38%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.47 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that United Parcel Service will post 7.5 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 5th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 18th were given a dividend of $1.63 per share. This represents a $6.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.71%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 18th. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 96.45%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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 value of $1,015,025.25. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 45,098 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,249,229.86. This represents a 13.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Parcel Service

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Global Retirement Partners LLC grew its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 4.6% during the 4th quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 13,170 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $1,661,000 after purchasing an additional 584 shares in the last quarter. Atlas Legacy Advisors LLC bought a new position in United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter valued at about $264,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust acquired a new position in United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth approximately $303,000. New York State Common Retirement Fund lifted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 867,132 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $109,345,000 after acquiring an additional 3,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mcdonald Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. Mcdonald Partners LLC now owns 24,412 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $3,078,000 after acquiring an additional 669 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 60.26% of the company’s stock.

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.