United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Shares Down 2.5% - Should You Sell?

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report)'s stock price dropped 2.5% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $123.16 and last traded at $123.57. Approximately 1,550,794 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 56% from the average daily volume of 3,506,072 shares. The stock had previously closed at $126.76.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Citigroup dropped their target price on United Parcel Service from $163.00 to $158.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Oppenheimer boosted their price target on United Parcel Service from $140.00 to $146.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, October 28th. Wolfe Research raised United Parcel Service from a "peer perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $147.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Susquehanna boosted their target price 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. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $151.10.

United Parcel Service Stock Down 2.7 %

The business's fifty day simple moving average is $129.54 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $131.23. The company has a market cap of $105.29 billion, a PE ratio of 18.64, a PEG ratio of 2.11 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 issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The transportation company reported $1.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.63 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $22.20 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.10 billion. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 37.38% and a net margin of 6.25%. United Parcel Service's revenue for the quarter was up 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.57 earnings per share. On average, analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.48 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 18th were given a $1.63 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 18th. This represents a $6.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.28%. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 98.49%.

Insider Transactions at United Parcel Service

In related news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the insider now owns 45,098 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,249,229.86. This represents a 13.97 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.13% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 10.5% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 4,144,372 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $567,157,000 after acquiring an additional 393,434 shares during the last quarter. Qsemble Capital Management LP increased its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 249.8% during the 2nd quarter. Qsemble Capital Management LP now owns 34,037 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $4,658,000 after buying an additional 24,306 shares during the last quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd raised its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 130.2% during the 2nd quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd now owns 1,013 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $139,000 after buying an additional 573 shares during the period. Achmea Investment Management B.V. raised its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 2.4% during the 2nd quarter. Achmea Investment Management B.V. now owns 87,199 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $11,933,000 after buying an additional 2,006 shares during the period. Finally, Vanguard Capital Wealth Advisors grew its position in United Parcel Service by 21.7% in the second quarter. Vanguard Capital Wealth Advisors now owns 2,851 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $390,000 after acquiring an additional 509 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.