United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Sets New 1-Year Low - Here's What Happened

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $113.89 and last traded at $114.35, with a volume of 1707792 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $133.78.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UPS has been the subject of several research reports. Raymond James reduced their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $155.00 to $145.00 and set a "strong-buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $128.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Wolfe Research upgraded United Parcel Service from a "peer perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $147.00 price target for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Oppenheimer lifted their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $140.00 to $146.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, October 28th. Finally, Barclays restated an "underweight" rating and issued a $120.00 target price on shares of United Parcel Service in a research note on Monday, October 21st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $141.95.

United Parcel Service Trading Down 0.6 %

The business has a 50 day moving average price of $128.72 and a 200-day moving average price of $130.61. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20. The firm has a market cap of $97.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 1.00.

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, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.52 by $0.23. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 37.38% and a net margin of 6.25%. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.47 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.5 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 5th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 18th were issued a dividend of $1.63 per share. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.71%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 18th. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio is presently 98.49%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total value of $1,015,025.25. Following the sale, the insider now owns 45,098 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,249,229.86. This trade represents a 13.97 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings in United Parcel Service by 4.3% in the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 829,280 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $113,064,000 after buying an additional 33,989 shares in the last quarter. Synovus Financial Corp increased its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 8.6% during the third quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 87,531 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $11,934,000 after purchasing an additional 6,941 shares during the period. Van ECK Associates Corp raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 1,061.1% during the third quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 1,772,765 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $232,959,000 after purchasing an additional 1,620,091 shares in the last quarter. HF Advisory Group LLC acquired a new stake in United Parcel Service in the fourth quarter worth about $1,305,000. Finally, Cohen Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in United Parcel Service by 26.4% in the 3rd quarter. Cohen Investment Advisors LLC now owns 18,357 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $2,503,000 after buying an additional 3,835 shares in the last quarter. 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.

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