United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Shares Down 0.4% on Analyst Downgrade

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report)'s stock price traded down 0.4% on Wednesday after StockNews.com downgraded the stock from a buy rating to a hold rating. The company traded as low as $90.55 and last traded at $91.58. 1,327,201 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 72% from the average session volume of 4,744,184 shares. The stock had previously closed at $91.92.

A number of other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports on the stock. Truist Financial started coverage on shares of United Parcel Service in a research note on Thursday, March 13th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $140.00 price objective for the company. Barclays reduced their price objective on United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $90.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 31st. Citigroup lowered their target price on United Parcel Service from $149.00 to $123.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on United Parcel Service in a research report on Friday, March 7th. They set a "hold" rating and a $119.00 price target on the stock. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on United Parcel Service from $135.00 to $120.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $131.32.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On United Parcel Service

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Norges Bank bought a new position in United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,075,393,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of United Parcel Service during the fourth quarter valued at $393,680,000. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 15.6% in the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 10,979,909 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $1,384,567,000 after purchasing an additional 1,484,452 shares during the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp boosted its stake in United Parcel Service by 77.7% in the 4th quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 3,150,901 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $397,329,000 after purchasing an additional 1,378,136 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in United Parcel Service by 6.1% during the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 23,264,665 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $2,933,674,000 after purchasing an additional 1,337,058 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 60.26% of the company's stock.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

The business's 50 day simple moving average is $112.11 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $123.97. The firm has a market capitalization of $82.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a current ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16.

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 return on equity of 39.13% and a net margin of 6.35%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.47 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were paid a dividend of $1.64 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 18th. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.77%. This is a boost from United Parcel Service's previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. United Parcel Service's dividend payout ratio is currently 97.04%.

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.