United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Shares Up 2.1% - Time to Buy?

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) shot up 2.1% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $99.82 and last traded at $98.87. 1,661,423 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 65% from the average session volume of 4,813,797 shares. The stock had previously closed at $96.84.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on UPS shares. UBS Group decreased their price target on United Parcel Service from $141.00 to $127.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 3rd. Galvan Research lowered their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $147.00 to $133.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Loop Capital reduced their price objective on United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Robert W. Baird cut United Parcel Service from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and lowered their price target for the company from $160.00 to $130.00 in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of United Parcel Service from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, April 18th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, United Parcel Service has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $128.74.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

The stock's 50 day moving average is $109.66 and its two-hundred day moving average is $122.19. The firm has a market capitalization of $83.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.50, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.14.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 in the previous year, the business posted $2.47 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were issued a dividend of $1.64 per share. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.69%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 18th. This is a boost from United Parcel Service's previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio is 97.04%.

Institutional Trading of United Parcel Service

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of UPS. Diamant Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 2.8% during the 3rd quarter. Diamant Asset Management Inc. now owns 4,060 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $554,000 after buying an additional 110 shares during the last quarter. Te Ahumairangi Investment Management Ltd grew its stake in United Parcel Service by 12.2% in the third quarter. Te Ahumairangi Investment Management Ltd now owns 17,236 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $2,337,000 after purchasing an additional 1,880 shares in the last quarter. Eaton Financial Holdings Company LLC acquired a new position in shares of United Parcel Service during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,021,000. Pine Valley Investments Ltd Liability Co increased its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 25.9% during the 3rd quarter. Pine Valley Investments Ltd Liability Co now owns 26,457 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $3,607,000 after purchasing an additional 5,444 shares during the last quarter. Finally, World Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 79.6% in the 3rd quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC now owns 17,675 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $2,410,000 after buying an additional 7,836 shares during the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.

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