United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Shares Down 0.2% - Here's What Happened

Shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) dropped 0.2% on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $114.25 and last traded at $115.21. Approximately 807,237 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 88% from the average daily volume of 6,559,051 shares. The stock had previously closed at $115.42.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UPS has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Loop Capital decreased their target price on United Parcel Service from $120.00 to $115.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Argus raised United Parcel Service from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. BMO Capital Markets raised United Parcel Service from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $155.00 to $150.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on United Parcel Service from $156.00 to $153.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Finally, Citigroup cut 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. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $140.73.

United Parcel Service Trading Down 0.2 %

The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. The firm has a market cap of $99.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.98. The business's fifty day moving average is $123.21 and its two-hundred day moving average is $128.33.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results 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 period last year, the company earned $2.47 earnings per share. 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 firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be issued a dividend of $1.64 per share. This represents a $6.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.64%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 18th. This is a positive change from United Parcel Service's previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. United Parcel Service's payout ratio is currently 97.04%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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

Institutional Trading of United Parcel Service

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Cigna Investments Inc. New grew its holdings in 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 during the period. Pacific Sage Partners LLC raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 4.8% during the 4th quarter. Pacific Sage Partners LLC now owns 1,677 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $212,000 after buying an additional 77 shares during the period. Banco Santander S.A. raised its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 0.6% during the third quarter. Banco Santander S.A. now owns 12,596 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $1,717,000 after purchasing an additional 79 shares during the period. Quent Capital LLC lifted its holdings 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 valued at $70,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Tradewinds LLC. lifted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. Tradewinds LLC. now owns 4,487 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $612,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.26% of the company's stock.

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.