United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Rating Lowered to "Hold" at StockNews.com

StockNews.com cut shares of United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday.

Several other brokerages have also recently issued reports on UPS. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $82.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Susquehanna decreased their price target on United Parcel Service from $130.00 to $120.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. Loop Capital reduced their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Baird R W cut shares of United Parcel Service from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $156.00 to $153.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $131.32.

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United Parcel Service Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:UPS traded up $0.39 on Thursday, hitting $96.95. The company had a trading volume of 5,542,916 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,808,906. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $112.11 and a 200 day moving average price of $123.97. 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 stock has a market cap 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 has a 1-year low of $90.55 and a 1-year high of $153.42.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) 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 prior year, the firm posted $2.47 earnings per share. Analysts expect that United Parcel Service will post 7.95 EPS for the current year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared 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 boost from United Parcel Service's previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.77%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 18th. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 97.04%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. IMG Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Generali Investments Management Co LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Pinney & Scofield Inc. bought a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. IFS Advisors LLC raised its holdings in United Parcel Service by 232.3% in the 4th quarter. IFS Advisors LLC now owns 216 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 151 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC bought a new position in United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.26% of the company's stock.

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.