United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Trading Down 1.2% - Here's Why

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) dropped 1.2% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $117.63 and last traded at $117.86. Approximately 1,123,910 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 74% from the average daily volume of 4,382,076 shares. The stock had previously closed at $119.26.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UPS has been the subject of several analyst reports. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of 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. Bank of America decreased their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $133.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Baird R W downgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Citigroup decreased their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $158.00 to $149.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised shares of United Parcel Service from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and decreased their price target for the company from $155.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $140.73.

United Parcel Service Stock Up 2.0 %

The stock has a market capitalization of $101.73 billion, a PE 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 fifty day moving average price is $121.94 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $127.88.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates 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 last year, the firm earned $2.47 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be given a dividend of $1.64 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 18th. This is an increase 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 5.51%. United Parcel Service's payout ratio is currently 97.04%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC raised its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 8.8% in the third quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 4,420 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $581,000 after acquiring an additional 359 shares during the period. Clear Creek Financial Management LLC raised its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 16.9% in the third quarter. Clear Creek Financial Management LLC now owns 3,048 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $416,000 after acquiring an additional 441 shares during the period. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. raised its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 5.7% in the third 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 during the period. National Pension Service raised its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 11.6% in the third quarter. National Pension Service now owns 1,296,691 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $176,791,000 after acquiring an additional 135,270 shares during the period. Finally, Asset Management One Co. Ltd. raised its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 1.8% in the third quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 278,713 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $38,000,000 after acquiring an additional 4,981 shares during the period. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.