StockNews.com Upgrades United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) to Buy

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) was upgraded by StockNews.com from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report issued on Wednesday.

A number of other brokerages also recently commented on UPS. Robert W. Baird downgraded United Parcel Service from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and decreased their target price for the company from $160.00 to $130.00 in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Argus upgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the company an "in-line" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Baird R W cut shares of United Parcel Service from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Wolfe Research raised United Parcel Service from a "peer perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $147.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, United Parcel Service has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $140.73.

United Parcel Service Stock Up 2.0 %

UPS traded up $2.31 on Wednesday, reaching $119.10. The company's stock had a trading volume of 6,811,272 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,410,221. The stock has a market cap of $101.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.14. The business's 50 day moving average is $122.09 and its 200 day moving average is $127.94. United Parcel Service has a 1 year low of $109.40 and a 1 year high of $158.95.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.52 by $0.23. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.35% and a return on equity of 39.13%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.47 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that United Parcel Service will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 5.7% during the 3rd quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 62,953 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $8,583,000 after acquiring an additional 3,416 shares in the last quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc boosted its position in United Parcel Service by 22.4% during the third quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 335,306 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $45,716,000 after purchasing an additional 61,360 shares during the period. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in United Parcel Service during the third quarter valued at approximately $148,000. Balentine LLC bought a new position in shares of United Parcel Service in the third quarter valued at approximately $337,000. Finally, Beacon Financial Advisory LLC raised its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 37.9% in the third quarter. Beacon Financial Advisory LLC now owns 14,408 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $1,964,000 after purchasing an additional 3,960 shares during the period. 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.