United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Stock Price Down 3.2% – What’s Next?

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) shares traded down 3.2% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $95.96 and last traded at $96.46. 969,330 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 80% from the average session volume of 4,767,030 shares. The stock had previously closed at $99.66.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UPS has been the topic of several research reports. StockNews.com downgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $135.00 to $120.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Citigroup reduced their price objective on United Parcel Service from $149.00 to $123.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on United Parcel Service from $156.00 to $153.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $82.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $131.32.

United Parcel Service Trading Up 0.4 %

The company has a current ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $112.11 and its 200 day moving average is $123.97. The firm has a market capitalization of $82.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.34, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.10.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.52 by $0.23. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 39.13% and a net margin of 6.35%. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.47 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 18th were given a dividend of $1.64 per share. This is a positive change from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 18th. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.77%. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is presently 97.04%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Parcel Service

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of UPS. Diamant Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in United Parcel Service by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter. Diamant Asset Management Inc. now owns 4,060 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $554,000 after acquiring an additional 110 shares in the last quarter. Te Ahumairangi Investment Management Ltd boosted its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 12.2% during the third quarter. Te Ahumairangi Investment Management Ltd now owns 17,236 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $2,337,000 after buying an additional 1,880 shares during the last quarter. Eaton Financial Holdings Company LLC purchased a new position in shares of United Parcel Service during the third quarter valued at approximately $1,021,000. Pine Valley Investments Ltd Liability Co raised its position in United Parcel Service by 25.9% in the 3rd quarter. Pine Valley Investments Ltd Liability Co now owns 26,457 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $3,607,000 after buying an additional 5,444 shares during the last quarter. Finally, World Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in United Parcel Service by 79.6% during the 3rd quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC now owns 17,675 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $2,410,000 after acquiring an additional 7,836 shares in the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is owned by 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.