United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Rating Increased to Buy at Bank of America

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) was upgraded by research analysts at Bank of America from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The firm presently has a $150.00 price objective on the transportation company's stock. Bank of America's target price points to a potential upside of 15.41% from the stock's current price.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued reports about the company. UBS Group increased their price target on United Parcel Service from $159.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on United Parcel Service from $151.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, October 25th. BMO Capital Markets raised United Parcel Service from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $155.00 to $150.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Evercore ISI upped their price objective on United Parcel Service from $138.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock an "in-line" rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Finally, Susquehanna upped their price objective on United Parcel Service from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $151.10.

United Parcel Service Trading Up 2.0 %

Shares of United Parcel Service stock traded up $2.50 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $129.97. The company's stock had a trading volume of 5,466,227 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,605,152. United Parcel Service has a 12 month low of $121.56 and a 12 month high of $161.35. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $129.09 and a 200 day moving average of $130.98. The company has a market capitalization of $110.91 billion, a PE ratio of 19.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 1.14.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The transportation company reported $1.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.63 by $0.13. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 37.38% and a net margin of 6.25%. The company had revenue of $22.20 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.10 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.57 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 5.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that United Parcel Service will post 7.49 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at United Parcel Service

In other United Parcel Service news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total value of $1,015,025.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 45,098 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,249,229.86. This represents a 13.97 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 0.13% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of United Parcel Service

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. IFS Advisors LLC raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 232.3% during the fourth quarter. IFS Advisors LLC now owns 216 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 151 shares during the last quarter. True Wealth Design LLC boosted its position in United Parcel Service by 397.7% during the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 214 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 171 shares during the last quarter. PSI Advisors LLC boosted its position in United Parcel Service by 408.2% during the third quarter. PSI Advisors LLC now owns 249 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC boosted its position in United Parcel Service by 720.0% during the third quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 246 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 216 shares during the last quarter. Finally, FSA Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in United Parcel Service during the third quarter valued at $36,000. 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.