United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Stock Price Up 2.4% - Should You Buy?

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report)'s share price shot up 2.4% on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $133.00 and last traded at $132.81. 1,523,062 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 64% from the average session volume of 4,285,604 shares. The stock had previously closed at $129.73.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have commented on UPS. BMO Capital Markets upgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $155.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their target price on United Parcel Service from $165.00 to $162.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $155.00 to $150.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $151.00 to $156.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Barclays reissued an "underweight" rating and issued a $120.00 target price on shares of United Parcel Service in a research report on Monday, October 21st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $151.10.

United Parcel Service Stock Up 2.2 %

The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $128.92 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $130.83. The firm has a market cap of $113.14 billion, a PE ratio of 20.03, a P/E/G ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The transportation company reported $1.76 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.63 by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $22.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.10 billion. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.25% and a return on equity of 37.38%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.57 EPS. Analysts expect that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.49 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 18th were paid a $1.63 dividend. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.92%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 18th. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 98.49%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 25th. The stock was 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 ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.13% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Parcel Service

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. IFS Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 232.3% during the fourth quarter. IFS Advisors LLC now owns 216 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 151 shares during the last quarter. True Wealth Design LLC raised its position in United Parcel Service by 397.7% during the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 214 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 171 shares during the last quarter. PSI Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 408.2% in the 3rd quarter. PSI Advisors LLC now owns 249 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the period. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 720.0% in the 3rd quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 246 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 216 shares during the last quarter. Finally, FSA Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of United Parcel Service during the third quarter valued at approximately $36,000. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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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