United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Shares Down 17.7% - Should You Sell?

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report)'s stock price fell 17.7% on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $110.04 and last traded at $110.16. 17,117,129 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 247% from the average session volume of 4,936,639 shares. The stock had previously closed at $133.78.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UPS has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Susquehanna raised their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price target on United Parcel Service from $165.00 to $162.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. Evercore ISI increased their price objective on United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the company an "in-line" rating in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. StockNews.com raised United Parcel Service from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Finally, Bank of America upgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $150.00 price target on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 16th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $151.24.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 1.14. The company has a market cap of $98.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.36, a PEG ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 1.00. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $129.05 and a 200-day simple moving average of $130.72.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share (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 last year, the business earned $2.47 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.49 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 18th were given a dividend of $1.63 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 18th. This represents a $6.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.67%. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio is presently 98.49%.

Insider Activity

In other United Parcel Service news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total transaction of $1,015,025.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 45,098 shares in the company, valued at $6,249,229.86. The trade was a 13.97 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Insiders own 0.13% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On United Parcel Service

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of UPS. Cigna Investments Inc. New boosted its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. Cigna Investments Inc. New now owns 7,508 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $1,024,000 after acquiring an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Pacific Sage Partners LLC boosted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 4.8% in the fourth quarter. Pacific Sage Partners LLC now owns 1,677 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $212,000 after purchasing an additional 77 shares in the last quarter. Banco Santander S.A. increased its stake in United Parcel Service by 0.6% in the third quarter. Banco Santander S.A. now owns 12,596 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $1,717,000 after purchasing an additional 79 shares during the last quarter. Gleason Group Inc. raised its holdings in United Parcel Service by 1.2% during the third quarter. Gleason Group Inc. now owns 6,576 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $897,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quent Capital LLC lifted its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 16.7% during the 4th quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 558 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $70,000 after buying an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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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