United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Trading 0.3% Higher – Time to Buy?

Shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) traded up 0.3% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $109.49 and last traded at $109.61. 638,928 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 86% from the average session volume of 4,655,458 shares. The stock had previously closed at $109.26.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently issued reports on UPS shares. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $166.00 to $147.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. 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 report on Wednesday, January 8th. UBS Group reduced their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $127.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on United Parcel Service in a research note on Friday, March 7th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $119.00 price target for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $128.00 to $120.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $133.18.

United Parcel Service Stock Down 9.2 %

The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. The stock has a market capitalization of $85.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.94. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $116.53 and a two-hundred day moving average of $125.86.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates 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 prior year, the company earned $2.47 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were paid a dividend of $1.64 per share. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.55%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 18th. This is an increase from United Parcel Service’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. United Parcel Service’s dividend payout ratio is 97.04%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. IMG Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Generali Investments Management Co LLC acquired a new position in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. IFS Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 232.3% during the fourth quarter. IFS Advisors LLC now owns 216 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 151 shares during the period. Pinney & Scofield Inc. acquired a new position in United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter valued at about $27,000. Finally, Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC bought a new stake in United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.